The Leadership Challenges of Chief Executive Officers in Public Sector Hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the current challenges faced by Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the government sector, within the KwaZulu-Natal region. Effective leadership is one of the most crucial components within the healthcare system, mainly because it affects the effectiveness of good quality health care. Identifying these challenges, and finding ways to improve them, could aid in the improvement of the current public health care system. Previously it had been assumed that as a CEO in a public hospital, you need to have a strong clinical background.. It is beneficial that CEOs are able to identify with the needs of the community they are servicing. As a CEO, there are numerous challenges that arise. These challenges are ever changing. Knowing and understanding the different leadership styles can aid in identifying the best type of leader required in public hospitals. Management in the public hospital sector seems to be fragmented. Improving the current structures may lessen the current burden the current healthcare system has within South Africa. The healthcare sector aims to provide efficient, high quality of care. Secondary data collection from government publications, academic journals and reports were used to access challenges faced by government hospital CEOs. In this study six themes emerged of the challenges faced by government hospital CEOs. These are were mainly political instability, management, infrastructure, economic challenges, rapid population growth and staffing. These seem to be indirectly linked to one other. By large, hospitals are constrained. The results of this study were able to shed some light of the current situation of government hospitals. It was found that one of the previous challenges, such as having CEOs who do not have a health background, has been eliminated. Proper planning, good ongoing management training and support from government, could help to improve the current challenges experienced in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.