Is there a need to involve doctors in management of health care in Saudi Arabia

Authors

• Ali M. Al-Shehri, Chairman, Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, PO Box 22490, Riyadh 11426, Mail Code: 4010, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (1) 4830302/4830280 Ext. 401/511. Fax. +966 (1) 4830307. E-mail: shehria3{at}ngha.med.sa

Abstract

Recently, the role of doctors and managers in health care management has become a hot topic in the newspapers and public magazine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The aim of this paper is to contribute constructively and scientifically to this topical issue by emphasizing that commonality and interaction between medicine and management dictate more involvement of doctors in management. Although one may argue that doctors are usually not well trained in resources management, scientific evidence supports the need for more involvement of doctors in managing health care system. In addition, government needs to make a strategic shift towards high quality primary and preventive care to enable doctors in management role to maintain essential services and contain cost.

Article Type

Editorial

First Page

1165

Last Page

1167

Recommended Citation

Al-Shehri, Ali M. (2003) "Is there a need to involve doctors in management of health care in Saudi Arabia," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 24: Iss. 11, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.2210