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sector skills plan for the health sector in south africa

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c) The Human Sciences Research Council<br />

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) conducts large-scale social-scientific projects <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

public <strong>sector</strong>, NGOs and <strong>in</strong>ternational development agencies. 28 One of <strong>the</strong> HSRC’s ma<strong>in</strong> research units<br />

focuses on <strong>the</strong> social aspects of HIV and AIDS and <strong>health</strong>. Research is conducted on <strong>the</strong> social<br />

determ<strong>in</strong>ants of <strong>health</strong>, <strong>in</strong> particular HIV and AIDS and on public <strong>health</strong> <strong>in</strong> general. Epidemiology <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>fectious disease is undertaken to understand how often and why diseases occur <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> population, and<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation is used to <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>the</strong> development of <strong>health</strong> policies and strategies. Specific research<br />

is also directed at <strong>health</strong> systems, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> development and evaluation of relevant <strong>health</strong>care<br />

<strong>in</strong>terventions. 29<br />

d) Onderstepoort Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Institute<br />

The Onderstepoort Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Institute (OVI) has been engaged <strong>in</strong> veter<strong>in</strong>ary research <strong>for</strong> more than a<br />

century. 30 Today it is one of several research <strong>in</strong>stitutes of <strong>the</strong> Agricultural Research Council (ARC),<br />

established to undertake research, development and technology transfer <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> use and improvement of<br />

agricultural resources. 31 Specific research is undertaken <strong>in</strong> viral diseases that have a major economic<br />

impact, such as foot and mouth disease, rabies, African sw<strong>in</strong>e fever, blue tongue, lumpy sk<strong>in</strong> disease,<br />

African horse sickness and Rift Valley fever.<br />

2.4.3 EMPLOYER ORGANISATIONS<br />

The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) is an <strong>in</strong>dustry association that represents <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terests<br />

of <strong>the</strong> majority of private hospital groups and <strong>in</strong>dependentlyowned private hospitals <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> country.<br />

HASA is a key role-player <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>health</strong> <strong>sector</strong> and represents approximately 90% of <strong>the</strong> private hospital<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry. As <strong>the</strong> official mouthpiece of <strong>the</strong> private hospital <strong>in</strong>dustry, it promotes entrepreneurship and<br />

free market economic pr<strong>in</strong>ciples, engages with government on proposed legislation and policy matters,<br />

represents <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry at commissions and <strong>in</strong>stitutions, and markets <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry and its services to <strong>the</strong><br />

public. The private hospital <strong>in</strong>dustry employs approximately 60 000 people. 32<br />

2.4.4 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS<br />

Several hundred NGOs operate with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>health</strong> <strong>sector</strong> and participate <strong>in</strong> and support various <strong>health</strong><br />

programmes at national and prov<strong>in</strong>cial level. Many NGOs and non-profit organisations have entered<br />

<strong>in</strong>to partnerships with prov<strong>in</strong>cial <strong>health</strong> departments and district municipalities to improve <strong>the</strong><br />

organisation and management of <strong>health</strong> systems and monitor <strong>the</strong> delivery of <strong>health</strong> services. As such,<br />

NGOs play crucial roles <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>health</strong>care <strong>sector</strong>. They contribute to research, policy advocacy,<br />

28 Established by <strong>the</strong> Human Sciences Research Act 23 of 1968. The new Human Sciences Research Council Act 17 of 2008 has<br />

been adopted by Parliament, but was not <strong>in</strong> operation by August 2010.<br />

29 Human Sciences Research Council. 2010. Social aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health Research Programme. Published at:<br />

http://www.hsrc.ac.za/SAHA.phtml. (Accessed August 2010).<br />

30 The Onderstepoort Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Institute was founded <strong>in</strong> 1908 by Sir Arnold Theiler.<br />

31 The Agricultural Research Council is established by <strong>the</strong> Agricultural Research Act 86 of 1990. Published at<br />

http://www.arc.agric.za/home.asp?pid=1118&sec=792. (Accessed August 2010).<br />

32 Hospital Association of South Africa. 2010. Published at http://www.hasa.co.za/about. (Accessed August 2010).<br />

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