Abstract

In searching for a governance reform strategy, the size, the vital roles of professional syndicates and their impact on the whole society place them among our top priorities. According to both the old and the new Egyptian constitutions, the professional syndicates have the legal base to represent the different professions, defend rights and interests of their members, improve the quality of the offered services to the society, and share in creating policies and procedures related to syndicates' members and their careers. The discrepancy between the proposed role of the professional syndicates and the reality motivated this research into the reasons behind their weaknesses and poor performance. Little recent analysis of Egypt's syndicates could be found in the literature. Selecting the Egyptian Medical Syndicate (EMS) as a case study was invoked by its vital role in health system reform. The main research question is “To what extent do the governance structure and procedures of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate correspond to international good governance standards?" The qualitative method was adopted in this research. The aspects of the governance of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) were used as a guide to highlight what components and core compositions of the structures of the EMS should be examined in the governance process and how? In addition, two questionnaires were developed. The first one conducted to the members and the later to senior managers and Board members. The respondents answered these questionnaires through group interview for members and Individual In-Depth Interview for senior managers and Board members. The aim was to make sure through these instruments, it will be possible to assess to what extent the EMS covered the standards principles of good governance and illuminate the areas which need to be improved. The study targeted doctors in three Egyptian governorates (Cairo, Giza and Gharbia) and the sample included males and females from different ages and backgrounds. The research found that the current governance system and procedures are in a bad need to be reformed to be consistent with international good governance standards. The findings of the study illustrated that there is a crucial need to issue a new law and bylaw for the Egyptian Medical Syndicate. The elections’ system needs to be revised. There is a necessity to identify a clear vision and mission for the EMS, setting the long term objectives, consider the annual planning and evaluation for the programs and activities. The Board of Directors needs to enhance its leadership and strategic planning skills. The study also highlighted the importance of considering the new tools of communications such as emails, website and video conferences to share information, and to achieve greater connection, participation and involvements for the members of the EMS. This study open the door to further research with hope to develop a good model to evaluate the governance system in other professional syndicates, and it will be possible to apply the model with some adaptation to fit the specific features of each syndicate.

Department

Public Policy & Administration Department

Graduation Date

6-1-2013

Submission Date

June 2013

First Advisor

Bremer, Jennifer

Committee Member 1

El Baradei, Laila

Committee Member 2

Ali, Hamid

Extent

128 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Professiol associations -- Egypt.

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Associations, institutions, etc. -- Egypt.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Comments

I would like to thank ALLAH for the gifts which are not interrupted, the wonderful blessing and for helping me to complete my Master’s program. In fact, this thesis would not have been possible without the help of some kind people around me who in one way or another contributed in the completion of this study. First, I am dedicating this work to the martyrs of the revolution of January 25, 2011 who sparked a new hope for reform in Egypt. Second, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Jennifer Bremer, my thesis advisor and the Chair of Public Policy and Administration Department at the American University in Cairo, for her patient guidance, enthusiastic encouragement and constructive suggestions during the planning and the progress of this research. The valuable comments, constructive critique and full support of my first reader, Prof. Laila El Baradei, has been inestimable on both an academic and a persol level, for which I highly appreciate. I would also like to thank my dear professor Dr. Hamid Ali, the second reader of my thesis, for his advice, useful comments, remarks and continuing encouragements. Last but not the least; I take this opportunity to express the gratitude from my deep heart to the spirit of my esteemed father and to my beloved mother for everything, my wife for her persol support and patience throughout the entire process. My brothers and sisters have given me their full support and encouragement. I am also dedicating this work to everyone who participated in the data collection through surveys or interviews.

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