ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors examine how doctors are involved in leadership roles within different health systems and indeed whether there are particular approaches to preparing doctors for the roles. The need to involve doctors in healthcare leadership has long been recognised. Medical leadership in primary care appeared to be less well-developed than in hospitals in all countries. By comparison with Denmark, leadership education and development in other countries was less well-organised and was mainly offered to doctors following completion of their training on a voluntary basis when they were considering moving into leadership roles. The number of doctors in leadership roles varies between different types of hospitals, with small community hospitals tending to have the smallest number of medical leaders. Leadership education and development is offered by individual hospitals, universities, health ministries and organisations such as the Canadian Medical Association.
