The role of the physician manager

At least since the Griffiths Report ministers have been saying that clinicians must become more involved in the management of hospitals. It is not an approach peculiar to the UK, and in April last year an international symposium was organised in Toronto when six hospitals from four different countries discussed their experiences in trying to implement it. Peter Ellis and Malcolm Moffat describe how, despite the differences between the countries and their health systems, there was a remarkable amount of common experience.