Introduction to Hospital Administration by the World Health Organization

World Health Organization Expert Committee Reports

The World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Hospital Administration was held in Geneva from October 3 to October 9, 1967. The meeting was opened by Dr. Karefa-Smart, Assistant Director-General, on behalf of the Director-General. In his opening remarks, Dr. Karefa-Smart pointed to the many new possibilities available in the fields of diagnosis and treatment resulting from the pharmaceutical and technological progress achieved during this decade. At the same time, many new developing countries have emerged with limited medical care facilities, yet spectacular progress in high-level services has continued in these countries, such as open-heart surgery, electronic patient monitoring, organ transplantation, and high-voltage radiotherapy. Furthermore, laboratory equipment has been mechanized, and at this time, electronic computers were used for data processing and disease diagnosis, and systems analysis was introduced to assist in planning. All of this has necessitated a massive amount of manpower and costs.

On the other hand, there are economically developing countries that still face the problem of providing the simplest forms of basic medical care for urgent cases. Therefore, this background must be relied upon when estimating the costs of establishing preventive services in conditions characterized by a shortage of funds, as well as in physical facilities and manpower. Thus, all these backgrounds should be taken into consideration; the methods produced by different countries may be similar, even if there are sometimes technical difficulties. For this reason, it is necessary to plan for public and private hospital management services, as the patterns of hospital administration and their operations may vary from one place to another.

Definition of the Hospital

The hospital is an essential part of social and medical organizations, and its function is to provide complete healthcare to the population, whether curative or preventive. The hospital's outpatient services extend to the family in its home environment. The hospital is also a center for training health workers and for conducting socio-biological research. Furthermore, the hospital is a solidarity institution for the inpatient and a shelter where they receive medical care and nursing. The definition can also be expanded to include hospitals that perform additional tasks, and the hospital can become a center with special skills in diagnosis and rehabilitative treatment for both inpatients and outpatients. Care is also provided for patients capable of moving or home care and personal preventive services. The hospital can also contribute to the education and training of health workers who conduct medical, preventive, social, and organizational research.

See also: Planning Principles for Hospital Management Health Courses