Wise words from Rwandan Minster of Health.
Participants at the Salzburg Global Seminar were urged on Wednesday to continue to strive for quality improvement in healthcare by the Minister of Health for Rwanda, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho.
Dr. Binagwaho joined the Seminar to speak on ‘Strengthening Leadership and Policy for Improving Care in Low and Middle Income Economies’ via video link from Kigali. She spoke on her own personal experiences of leading quality improvement, particularly highlighting the importance of engaging all stakeholders, including the population, in improving healthcare, as politicians like herself rarely stay in office for more than two years.
The session also saw an international panel - from Namibia, Thailand, the UK, Uganda and the US, as well as Rwanda - convene to share their views and successful experiences of leading healthcare improvements.
Community level engagement was brought up repeatedly through out the session, with participants during their breakout workshops yet again drawing attention to the limitations in traditional thinking. One of the key suggestions to be made by Salzburg participants addressed the need to lead change through all levels of healthcare systems, not just national, but regional, district and community.
Another suggestion was that leaders must establish clear direction and set priorities that are then communicated to the public, championing transparency in performance and displaying integrity in addressing those promised priorities.
Session chair, Bruce Agins, highlighted in his report: “As they stay attuned to their environment and changing landscape, leaders in particular need to stay attuned to the care provided to those most vulnerable in their nations and drive improvement to meet their needs which may often require specific efforts to ascertain.”
All suggestions made by the groups will be incorporated into the Salzburg Statement.
Talking Point: What is the number one most important attribute for a good leader to have?
“Sensitivity to the needs of his staff.”
Rob Palkovitz, Professor, Human Development & Family Studies, University of Delaware, USA
“Puts the client first.”
Jean Nguessan, Country Director, URC, Cote d’Ivoire
“To be able to visualize, five, ten years ahead.”
Amit Pawal, Consultant, USAID & GTZ, India
“Effective communication.”
Nana Mensah-Abrampah, Quality Improvement Fellow, URC, USA
“Communication and compassion.”
Sylvia Sax, Lecturer, Institute of Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany
“Be inspiring to the people they lead.”
Sarah Byakika, Assistant Commissioner for Quality Assurance, Ministry of Health, Uganda
“A good team that can point out the real priorities and ensure the strategic ones are being taken and put into the agenda.”
Tatiana Paduraru, National Consultant on Foreign Assistant, Ministry of Health, Moldova
“Tolerance...they have to work with different donors and organizations... It is important for leaders to understand what other people would like and try to choose key issues.”
Aigul Kalieva, Chief of Neonatal Services, Ministry of Health, Kyrgyzstan
“A vision, along with empathy to others.”
Shirin Kazimov, Health Project Management Specialist, USAID, Azerbaijan
“Trust his team.”
Anna Korotkova, Deputy Director for International Affairs, Federal Institute for Health Care Organization, Russian Federation
“Ability to see different sides to an issue.”
Carlo Irwin Panelo, Chief of Party, Health Policy Development Program, USAID, Philippines
“Integrity...straightforward, accountable, be visionary.”
Baile Moagi, Director, Health Inspectorate, Ministry of Health, Botswana
“A vision...chart out a path and all other things will fall into place.”
Charles Nde Awasom, Medical Director, Ministry of Health, Cameroon
“Insight...if a leader isn’t able to learn from mistakes and to support people when mistakes are made, they will never reach their potential for delivery.”
Tracey Cooper, President, ISQua, Ireland
“Unflagging dedication and commitment to the goal of improvement.”
Bruce Agins, Medical Director, AIDS Institute, New York State Department of Health, USA
