A comment under my facebook post…
I once asked a prominent politician a question about ministerial appointments.
My question:
Would Ghana feel comfortable appointing someone with no basic understanding of economics to lead the finance ministry?
Would we feel comfortable appointing someone with no legal foundation to serve as Attorney-General or Minister for Justice?
Then why do we often accept the idea that someone with little understanding of health systems, healthcare delivery, public health, or clinical realities can lead the health ministry?
Her answer was that:
“You don’t need health knowledge to lead the health ministry.”
I was not convinced.
And still not convinced.
So I am asking again. May be you I will get a better answer from X.
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Just to add
A health experience alone is not enough either.
That is not my argument.
The person still needs leadership, management, political judgment, financial discipline, and the ability to work across systems.
But some foundation in how healthcare and health systems work should be treated as a minimum requirement.
You cannot lead what you do not understand.
When the crisis comes, you still need enough knowledge to ask the right questions, challenge weak advice, understand trade-offs, and know when the system is failing before the public sees the damage.
Health leadership should be treated like stewardship over a system that decides who lives, who waits, who suffers, and who gets care.
Maybe I am wrong.
But what do you think?
Health isn't special enough?