sector skills plan for the health sector in south africa

several institutions are specifically mandated to advance the training and development of researchers,
health professionals and technicians for the health sector.
a) The South African Medical Research Council
The South African Medical Research Council (MRC) is a statutory body established to promote the
improvement of the nation’s health and quality of life through research, development and technology
transfer. 22 The MRC conducts research in 45 units in respect of the burden of disease in South Africa,
public health and policy matters, environmental health issues, health promotion, African traditional
medicines and aspects concerning women, maternal and child health. 23 Among the core tasks of the
MRC are to promote the training of researchers and related personnel and, for that purpose, it may
grant study bursaries and loans and pay grants for training and research in the health sciences. 24
b) The National Health Laboratory Service
The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) is a statutory body that provides health laboratory
services to all state clinics and hospitals and, at request, to private sector providers. 25 The NHLS
replaced the South African Institute for Medical Research, the National Institute for Virology, the
National Centre for Occupational Health, state-owned forensic chemistry laboratories, and provincial
health laboratory services. The NHLS consists of four specialised divisions, the National Institute for
Communicable Diseases, the National Institute for Occupational Health, the National Cancer Registry
and the anti-venom unit. As a network of about 265 pathology laboratories throughout South Africa,
the NHLS provides diagnostic laboratory services, research, teaching and training, and production of
serums for anti-snake venom, reagents and media. The NHLS employs approximately 6500 people and
serves approximately 80% of the population. 26
With its strong training mandate, the NHLS trains medical technologists in association with universities
of technology. It cooperates with the pathology departments of all eight faculties of health sciences 27 to
teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level in courses such as anatomical pathology, haematology,
microbiology, infectious diseases, immunology, human genetics, chemical pathology, epidemiology,
tropical diseases, molecular biology, medical entomology and human nutrition.
22 The MRC was established by the South African Medical Research Council Act, 19 of 1969 and continues to exist under the
South African Medical Research Council Act, 58 of 1991.
23 South African Medical Research Council. Undated Corporate brochure. Published at
http://www.mrc.ac.za/about/mrcbrochure.pdf. (Accessed August 2010).
24 South African Medical Research Council. 2005. Research Strategy 2005-2010. Published at
http://www.mrc.ac.za/about/MRCResearchStrategy.pdf. (Accessed August 2010).
25 Established by the National Health Laboratory Service Act 37 of 2000. Published at
http://www.nhls.ac.za/about_NHLS_ACT.pdf. (Accessed August 2010); National Treasury 2010.”Vote 15: Health”. Estimates of
National Expenditure 2010.
26 National Health Laboratory Service. Published at http://www.nhls.ac.za/about_we.html. (Accessed August 2010).
27 These are the faculties of health sciences of the universities of Cape Town, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo (MEDUNSA
Campus), Pretoria, Stellenbosch, Witwatersrand, Walter Sisulu University for Technology and the Science and the Oral
Pathology Department of the University of the Western Cape.
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