[babubhandari]

The concept of the “five-star doctor” is proposed as an ideal profile of a doctor possessing a mix of aptitudes to carry out the range of services that health settings must deliver to meet the requirements of relevance, quality, cost-effectiveness and equity in health. The five sets of attributes of the “five-star doctor” are summarized below
The five-star doctor
* Care provider
* Decision-maker
* Communicator
* Community leader
* Manager
Details of these attributes are given below
• Care-provider: Besides giving individual treatment “five-star doctors” must take into account the total (physical, mental and social) needs of the patient. They must ensure that a full range of treatment - curative, preventive or rehabilitative - will be dispensed in ways that are complementary, integrated and continuous. And they must ensure that the treatment is of the highest quality.
• Decision-maker: In a climate of transparency “five-star doctors” will have to take decisions that can be justified in terms of efficacy and cost. From all the possible ways of treating a given health condition, the one that seems most appropriate in the given situation must be chosen. As regards expenditure, the limited resources available for health must be shared out fairly to the benefit of every individual in the community.
• Communicator: Lifestyle aspects such as a balanced diet, safety measures at work, type of leisure pursuits, respect for the environment and so on all have a determining influence on health. The involvement of the individual in protecting and restoring his or her own health is therefore vital, since exposure to a health risk is largely determined by one’s behaviour. The doctors of tomorrow must be excellent communicators in order to persuade individuals, families and the communities in their charge to adopt healthy lifestyles and become partners in the health effort.
• Community leader: The needs and problems of the whole community - in a suburb or a district - must not be forgotten. By understanding the determinants of health inherent in the physical and social environment and by appreciating the breadth of each problem or health risk “five-star doctors” will not simply be treating individuals who seek help but will also take a positive interest in community health activities which will benefit large numbers of people.
• Manager: To carry out all these functions, it will be essential for “five-star doctors” to acquire managerial skills. This will enable them to initiate exchanges of information in order to make better decisions, and to work within a multidisciplinary team in close association with other partners for health and social development. Both old and new methods of dispensing care will have to be integrated with the totality of health and social services, whether destined for the individual or for the community.
Dr Charles Boelen
WHO, Geneva, Switzerland