Future Challenges in Healthcare Management

ANALYSIS OF THE FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT           

            Mintzberg observes that management is acquired by acting, practicing the confrontations and prospects of leadership.¹ However, the best and most accomplished are intuitive performers who insightfully know their demeanors, approaches and deeds. In addition, their influence on others, the organization, the ability to look into, review deeply their own performance setting it in a broader context that is enclosed by relevant theories, models and concepts.[1] According to Peter Drucker, health care institutions are among the hardest institutions to supervise. Supervisors are required to expect the results of modern technologies by choosing those that give better returns than costs. They must scrutinize and agree on tricky financial undertakings that give required financial resources without jeopardizing long-term monetary liability. Supervisors are required to resolve internal differences between professionals, thereby regulate rival needs of society, stakeholders, taxpayers, patients and staff.[2]

            Smith and Walshe observe that very developed country health care system will be faced with four unavoidable challenges. Namely:

Ø  Population change

Ø  The rate of technological development

Ø  Shifting user and customer needs; and

Ø  Increasing prices under international fiscal depression.

The population change means as people tend to live longer, the population of aged people increases at a fast rate. The elderly comprise usage of health care institutions much more because of their degenerating body functions. As people live longer the cost to keep them alive and the likelihood to develop complicated and persistent illnesses increases.[3] World Health Organization postulates this as a result of health hazards such as cigarette use, unfitness and proper eating habits.[4]

      The rate of technological development relates to population change in that it mirrors the upward ability to contain persistent illnesses therefore extends life. By increasing technological advancements in pharmaceuticals, surgery, diagnostics and service delivery through cell phones new ways of managing disease and cure are discovered each day. Largely, this means treatment methods that are not only effective, but unfortunately quite expensive to administer than the existing ones.

      Nowadays people need more from health providers in terms of service delivery than their parents needed. They are not satisfied with the traditional reception of health service prescribed and distributed by the health providers. They want to know exactly what is ailing them, ways to prevent relapse and so on. Like any other areas of specialization such as banking, housing, education, they expect to be consulted and up to date since they are the end users. This represents a population that has more information, is coherent and likely to be informed and ask for new and exorbitant treatments.

      The increasing cost of health care is the result of the three challenges highlighted earlier. Each of the challenges exerts pressure for more funds. Even under acute international fiscal depression, governments have little or no alternative but to increase their spending on health facilities which never seems to be enough. This normally forces governments to reduce spending on other equally important economic sectors such as education. Over the years innovation of better and cheaper computers, cars and banking have been witnessed. On the other hand, health care costs are quite high and continues to rise along with the demand for it.

      A report by Andrea Chipman for the Economic Intelligence Unit observes Africa as home to the world’s poorest populations and at the same time grappling with numerous health crises. The report continues to assert that terminal ailments are now being matched by preventable communicable and parasitic diseases. It identifies the mode of funding as inadequate in the health care delivery system. Government expenditure continues to be insufficient while international funding looks uncertain in the current economic environment. Lack of adequate public health care means the poorest Africans have little or no access to care. Moreover, they sometimes lack the basic requirements of health such as clean water, sanitation and balanced diet. This provides a major challenge in managing healthcare in the continent[5]  

      Global health care systems are at a verge of change. The transformations that countries carry out in the next few years will be important to reducing the mortality rates especially in developing economies. As more and more people become informed health care measures especially with the increased use of the internet, governments must be at the fore-front to provide sufficient, quality and timely health care solutions. Medical students should be taught managerial skills to assist in the management of health delivery institutions.

Bibliography

Chipman Andrea. The future of healthcare in Africa .Economist Intelligence Unit. The Economist http://www.economistinsights.com/sites/default/files/downloads/EIU-Janssen_HealthcareAfrica_Report_Web.pdf [accessed June, 17 2014]

 Baker R.G. PH. D (n.d) Healthcare Managers in the Complex World of Healthcare, 24 www.researchgate.net/Healthcare_Managers/9c96052aca [accessed on June, 17 2014]

Mintzberg, H. Managers Not MBAs. London: Prentice Hall, 2004

Peck, E. Organizational Development in Healthcare: Approaches, Innovations, Achievements. Oxford: Radcliffe Medical Press, 2004

Smith Judith and Walshe Kieran. Introduction: The current and future challenges of healthcare management. https://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/openup/chapters/9780335243815.pdf [accessed June, 17 2014]    

World Health Organization. Preventing Chronic Diseases: A vital investment, Geneva. WHO, 2005

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[1] Peck, E. Organizational Development in Healthcare: Approaches, Innovations, Achievements.(Oxford: Radcliffe Medical Press,2004)

[2] G. Ross Baker. PH. D (n.d) Healthcare Managers in the Complex World of Healthcare, 24 www.researchgate.net/Healthcare_Managers/9c96052aca [accessed on June 17, 2014]

[3] Judith Smith and Kieran Walshe. Introduction: The current and future challenges of healthcare management. https://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/openup/chapters/9780335243815.pdf [ accessed June 17, 2014]

[4] World Health Organization. Preventing Chronic Diseases: A vital investment. (Geneva. WHO, 2005)

[5] Andrea Chipman. The future of healthcare in Africa .Economist Intelligence Unit. The Economist http://www.economistinsights.com/sites/default/files/downloads/EIU-Janssen_HealthcareAfrica_Report_Web.pdf [ accessed June 17, 2014]