sector skills plan for the health sector in south africa

2 PROFILE OF THE SECTOR
2.1 INTRODUCTION
Any sectoral skills development strategy needs to be based on a sound understanding of employment in
the sector, the environment in which services are delivered, and the changes taking place in that sector.
In this chapter of the SSP the health sector is described and discussed from various perspectives.
First, the sector served by the HWSETA forms part of the South African Health System and this chapter
starts with a short description of the national health system, a description of standard industrial
classification (SIC) codes included in the scope of the HWSETA, and the identification of points of contact
with other SETAs. This is followed by a description of the organisations that are major role players in the
sector.
The chapter then continues with a description of the employees in the sector. This section starts with
an estimate of total employment, followed by a description of employees according to occupation,
population group, gender and age.
In the conclusions to this chapter the most salient implications of the profile of the health sector for
skills development are highlighted.
2.2 THE SOUTH AFRICAN HEALTH SYSTEM
Figure 2-1 provides a graphical representation of the South African health system.
Figure 2-1 The South African health system
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