What will be the future of the health professional

A.P. DANSO

THE TIMES

• The Times that we live in – difficult times . • In difficult times it is easy to combat the • Now • And go through the • PRESENT • AND forget the • Future

Strategic life plan

• Every human being needs a stategic life plan

• But not everyone has it

• The Majority do not have it .

What is a strategic life plan

• A map of your goals

• And to quote Jack Canfield this must be

• Specific • Measureable • Achievable • Realistic and • Time bound

Specific

• Food and shelter and family upkeep • Roof over the head

• Upkeep of family

• Retire as a simple average citizen

Measurable

• After 30-40 years of Practice my pension will be xyz

• With that I shall live comfortably

• Forty years after looking after patients I shall be able to look after myself both as a RETIREE and as a PATIENT !

ACHIEVABLE

• I will work hard to be able to achieve an average simple life style

• retire in dignity

• And in peace of mind

Realistic

• To be able to live above the poverty line

• Educate children in good schools

• Live reasonably well

• Live without financial stress –fear of the failure to achieve the above

TIME-BOUND

• Is the medical professional able to say after forty years of service to the community

• I AM RETIRING PEACEFULLY WITHOUT

STRESS .

The real QUESTION?

• CAN THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SAY SO TODAY ?

• I am retiring ( at what age ? )

• With financial security ?

LESSONS LEARNT ?

• Unless a shift is obtained , the profession will continue to be :

• UNATTRACTIVE TO PROSPECTIVE YOUNGSTERS

• AND THE FUTURE LOOKS BLEAK . • OUR SPECIE WILL BE EXTINCT

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT FROM HISTORY

• World wide the pre-war health care system was built around the

• SOLO PRACTITIONER

• The sick person received a doctor’s service and was paid by patient out of his pocket .

• The hospital was a primitive institution offering hotel service

What have we learnt from history ?

• A certain amount of equipment unavailable at the doctors office was in the hospital

• Doctor were spread throughout their countries and they tended to be wealthier

• So they could also exert political pressure on the political system

What has history taught us ?

• In our country ZIMA was the voice of the Nation’s doctors

• It has power , it had clout

• TODAY IT IS DIFFERENT .

• THERE IS A BIG SHIFT

What has history taught us ?

• Today there is a steep decline in the role of the solo practitioner both in delivery of medical care and in

• Medical power structure • The solo practitioner is no more at the heart

of the new system WORLD WIDE

WHY THE SHIFT ?

• Why the shift of the centre of the medical gravity ?

• Because of change in Technology

• Because of change in Financing

• Because of change in Prestige structure of the medical profession

A NEW SYSTEM

• With expanding technology of patient care , doctors can’t stock their offices with Laparoscopic towers , Robotic towers and other expensive new tools .

• Technology has made hospitals very important • But it is actually the growth of health

insurance plans which have even given more prominence to hospitals

A NEW SYSTEM

• Doctors depend on hospitals , • Hospitals have become dependent on large

university Centres • And Research centres • Universities are changing faces for example

the UZ will have to affiliate or adopt private institutions to help train Radiologists / Endoscopists etc .

THE EMPIRE

• MEDICAL EMPIRE =health commodities , Technology and Equipment Industries

• Doctors • Patients • Institutions =hospitals and med schools

So what has happened

• After 30-years of practice , where will you be? • Can you retire peacefully ? • Have you cushioned yourself properly

financially ? • Can you afford an average lifestyle ? • Do you have a retirement INCOME ? • Can you make ENDS MEET ??????????• Compare with the other mates at university !!!!

Medical empire

• So the solo doctor cannot remain the EMPEROR . ( cannot dictate )

• The patient is not the EMPEROR • The funder is not the EMPEROR • SO WHO IS THE EMPEROR

What does the future hold

• Group practices • Small units of investment groups • Learn to invest in Service –medsolve , west End

clinic etc • BUT ABOVE ALL LET US HAVE A GLOBAL AN ALL

ENCOMPASSING ZIMA LED ANNUITY FUND? • Don’t chase money , Money follows only one

thing !!!!!. Let us plan together .

For the individual

• Our hope is a big general ANNUITY FUND

• Aertze kammer as obtains in Germany Old mutual could help us out . Otherwise the future remains BLEAK for the solopractitioner .You can’t save enough for a very stress free

future !!!

The art of living

• The art of living is not the how you started it

• But is buried in a SECRET !!!

• HOW you finished it .

• Vita non vitanda sed vivenda