sector skills plan for the health sector in south africa

emain fairly common. 63 Not everyone requiring HIV and AIDS medication can be treated due to
resource constraints. 64 Recent research has shown that the rise in the child mortality rate in South Africa
since 1990 can be attributed to constraints in the availability of healthcare services (the coverage of
care) and the quality of care due to staff shortages. It has been shown that the available financial and
human resources are insufficient to meet the demands for care of mothers, babies and children. 65 Lowquality
care in the neo-natal stage may result in complications such as cerebral palsy and blindness
(retinopathy of prematurity) which have a long-term impact on the demand for specialist care. Demand
for healthcare among the urban poor population is also increasing due to the growing prominence of
non-communicable and chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease and certain
types of cancer. 66
A comprehensive revitalisation programme for public hospitals and public healthcare facilities is
underway. New hospitals are under construction and existing facilities are being upgraded, renovated
and repaired. 67 As the number of hospital beds is increased, so will the demand for medical
professionals and staff increase.
3.3.3 THE DEMAND FOR PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
The private sector also experienced an increase in demand for healthcare. This is evidenced by the
increase in medical scheme membership, higher hospital occupancy rates, the growth in the percentage
of people consulting health workers, as well as considerations about the quality of healthcare.
Membership of medical schemes increased from about 6.5 million in 2000 to about 7.9 million people in
2009. The hospital occupancy rate in private hospitals also increased from 62% in 2007 to 65% in
2008. 68 A larger percentage of people with medical aid coverage (87.4%) consulted health workers in
2007 than did in 2002 (85.5%). 69
Several research studies over the last decade found that users of public health facilities remain
concerned about the quality of care due to long waiting lines, lack of equipment and medication,
disrespect for patients and rude staff. 70 Growing numbers of people from the poorest households
prefer to pay for private care, which increases the demand for private providers and GPs in particular. 71
63 National Treasury. 2009. “Health”. In Provincial Budgets and Expenditure Review 2005/06 – 2011/12.
64 Harrison, D. 2009. An Overview of Health and Health care in South Africa 1994-2010: Priorities, Progress and Prospects for
New Gains.
65 Chopra, M., Daviaud, E., Pattinson, R. et al. 2009. “Saving the lives of South Africa’s mothers, babies, and children: can the
health system deliver?” Lancet. September 2009. Vol. 374. Published at http://thelancet.com. (Accessed August 2010).
66 Chopra, M., Lawn, J.E., Sanders, D. et al. 2009. “Achieving the health Millennium Development Goals for South Africa:
challenges and priorities”. Lancet. September 2009. Vol. 374. Published at http://thelancet.com. (Accessed August 2010).
67 National Treasury. 2010. “Vote 15: Health”. Estimates of National Expenditure 2010.
68 Development Bank of South Africa. 2008. A Roadmap for the Reform of the South African Health System.
69 Van der Berg, S., Burger, R., Theron, N. et al. 2010. Financial Implications of a National Health Insurance Plan for South Africa;
Hospital Association of South Africa. 2009. Private Hospital Review:2009. Published at
http://www.hasa.co.za/media/uploads/news/.../Private_Hospital_Review_2009.pdf. (Accessed August 2010).
70 McIntyre, D., Goudge, J., Harris, B. et al. 2009. “Prerequisites for National Health Insurance in South Africa: Results of a
national household survey”. South African Medical Journal. October 2009. 99 (10). Published at
http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/samj/V99n10. (Accessed August 2009).
71 Van der Berg, S., Burger, R., Theron, N. et al. 2010. Financial Implications of a National Health Insurance Plan for South Africa.
26