Who should lead in healthcare: Are doctors still the best fit?: A qualitative study in Indonesia

Introduction: The medical profession has traditionally dominated leadership in healthcare facilities. However, fewer doctors have shown interest in leadership roles in recent years. Objective: to analyze the perspectives on the role of doctors in healthcare leadership in Indonesia. Methods: a qualitative study involved 49 participants, both civil and non‑civil servant health leaders from 31 government institutions in Aceh, Indonesia. Data were collected through in‑depth interviews and FGDs, and were analyzed thematically using NVivo version 12. Results: the study identified five key themes, including physician engagement in leadership, the significance of physician leadership, distinctive traits, leadership development, and the criteria for an ideal healthcare leader. Conclusions: This study analyzed healthcare leadership from medical and non-medical perspectives in Indonesia. It highlights the critical yet underexplored role of physician leadership, provides culturally grounded insights, and contributes to the discourse on strengthening leadership capacity in low- and middle-income health systems.