sector skills plan for the health sector in south africa

Arguably, many of the driving factors in the disease burden are linked to social and economic
inequalities and are not primarily caused by poor health services. 90 The scope and complexity of these
health threats are creating increased demands on the health services and its workforce. 91 It is evident
that the sector requires well-skilled health professionals who are prepared, willing and able to tackle the
demands of treating and alleviating the burden of disease.
3.7 HUMAN RESOURCES CHALLENGES
Market forces, working conditions and career advancement opportunities are all factors that determine
where and for how long people work in a particular workplace. This is also true of the health sector
labour market. While this SSP looks at the availability of skills and the demand and supply of the skills in
more detail in the following chapters, it is useful to sketch key issues at this stage.
Decisionmakers, operational managers and analysts of the sector have expressed concerns about the
quantity and quality of healthcare professionals available in the country. It is widely recognised that
care levels, outcomes and management of the public health system are under strain, partly because of
significant staff shortages and an inadequate skills base. 92 The DBSA work groups found that South
Africa lacked an effective human resources strategy to ensure that the public sector is resourced and
that the country has an adequate supply of health professionals. 93
It is not only the numbers of health workers that is of concern, but also their distribution between the
public and private sectors. Estimates on the distribution of resources across the sectors vary, depending
on the approach adopted and the interpretation of available (and often uncertain) data. Nevertheless,
Table 3-5 compares the allocation of general medical practitioners, medical specialists and nurses per
100000 population in the public and private sectors.
Table 3-5 Key resources per 100 000 population in public and private sectors: 2009
GPs per 100 000
population
Specialists per 100 000
population
Nurses per 100 000
population
Public sector 26 9 255
Private sector 86 65 500
Total 37 19 300
Source: Econex in Van der Berg, S., Burger, R., Theron, N. et al. 2010. Financial Implications of a National Health Insurance Plan
for South Africa.
90 Harrison, D. 2009. An Overview of Health and Health care in South Africa 1994-2010: Priorities, Progress and Prospects for
New Gains. Published at www.doh.gov.za (Accessed February 2010).
91 Lehmann, U. 2008. “Strengthening Human Resources for Primary Health Care”. South African Health Review 2008. Health
Systems Trust. Published at www.hst.org.za/publications/841 (Accessed August 2010).
92 Harrison, D. 2009. An Overview of Health and Health care in South Africa 1994-2010: Priorities, Progress and Prospects for
New Gains. Published at www.doh.gov.za (Accessed February 2010); Coovadia, H., Jewkes, R., Barron, P. et al. 2009. “The health
and health system of South Africa: historical roots of current public health challenges”. Lancet. September 2009. Vol. 374.
Published at http://thelancet.com. (Accessed August 2009); 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)
93 Development Bank of South Africa. 2008. A Roadmap for the Reform of the South African Health System.
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