Introduction to Principles and Guidelines for Better Governance in Hospitals

The healthcare sector faces major challenges resulting in inefficiencies and ineffective delivery of quality healthcare. . This is manifested in the dissatisfaction of many stakeholders, especially patients. Dissatisfaction among stakeholders in hospital performance signals the need for change. One step at reforming healthcare service delivery is to create autonomous, accountable and well-governed hospitals capable of taking evidenced-based decisions to deliver patient-centered and quality care, while also positively interacting with their complex stakeholder environment. Corporate governance frameworks propose structural reform principles leading to autonomy and accountability. The adoption of such principles within the hospital setting has the potential to increase the level of efficiency by which hospitals deliver health care, make decisions, and competitively enhance their overall performance. The Healthcare Governance and Transparency Association (HeGTA) supported by Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) developed a Guide: Principles and Guidelines of Governance in Hospitals, with the aim of introducing practitioners to a framework for addressing governance challenges in Egypt’s hospitals. Launched in Egypt in March 2014, the guide sets a milestone towards well-governed hospitals by bridging the gap between theory and practice whilst refraining from quick fixes. The Guide interlinks five different domains: corporate governance and clinical governance; board excellence; control, audit and risk frameworks; sustainability and inclusiveness; and transparency and disclosure, under one umbrella.

Dr. Mostafa Hunter, Lead Founder and Chairman of HeGTA and Lead Author of the Guide will share his insights on key principles for improving governance in hospitals to achieve effective and efficient delivery of healthcare services.