Amid skyrocketing youth unemployment, healthcare, a vast sector which touches all of our lives at some point, seems a sensible space for young people to set their sights on for opportunities. From clinical sciences to pharmacy, there is a myriad of careers in the healthcare ecosystem, but there are also factors preventing this potential from being unleashed, writes Bada Pharasi, CEO of The Innovative Pharmaceutical Association South Africa (IPASA).
A career in health has long been seen as a symbol of success in South Africa. The no-nonsense nurses in our communities, the hard-working doctors and the knowledgeable pharmacists have long represented those who had “made it”.
For many of us, these were the lucky ones who had found a career path that was both rewarding and respected. This has also been the way that South Africans view the myriad of the less visible jobs in healthcare (lab technicians, pharmacist assistants, dieticians, the list is endless).
As South Africa grapples with the highest unemployment rate1 in the world, with youth unemployment being the biggest concern (currently at more than 60%2), it’s not difficult to see why the healthcare system with its vast range of careers would present a solution. Careers in health not only benefit young people looking for a start in life, but they also build South Africa’s capacity to provide care for millions who desperately need it.
As young people search for the stepping stones to long, rewarding careers, many will be advised by well-intentioned family and friends to seek a future in healthcare. And it’s not bad advice.
As a sector that can generate employment opportunities at both ends of the value chain – from highly skilled specialists in technology and research to those who operate in palliative or frail care environments2 – the recent effects of the Covid-19 pandemic underscored the essential value and role that healthcare workers play in bolstering South Africa’s socio-economic and overall health resilience.
Human resource gaps in healthcare are clear
In 2020, the Hospital Association of South Africa suggested that there was a shortage of between 26 000 and 62 000 professional nurses and this shortage is expected to increase to between 305 000 and 340 000 by 2030 as the country’s population continues to grow. Alarmingly, estimates suggest that only 26 ,000 will be trained by then3.
South Africa also has less than one doctor per 1000 patients4. In a country with serious disease burdens, the situation is far from ideal.
The need for long-term planning
A challenge often cited when posts are frozen in healthcare is funding. While there are undoubtedly funding constraints in the healthcare system, it seems unlikely that the addition of funds will solve the challenge. It’s worth rethinking the way the human resources pipeline in South Africa is structured and where the bottlenecks lie.
South Africa’s history of inequality, which is deeply entrenched in the country’s healthcare system, has created the twin challenge of a shortage of skills and inadequate capacity to manage and distribute those skills to where they’re most needed. There are also policy bottlenecks that can hinder progress.
For instance, while complementing the qualification with some kind of work experience and community service spent in the public sector is an applaudable initiative, it becomes counterproductive when there aren’t enough posts in the public sector to place people coming out of training institutions. This, in turn, limits the number of professionals who can qualify, adding incrementally to the shortage of personnel every year.
Similarly, the cap on the number of personnel that the Nursing Council can accredit per year may limit the number of posts needed, but it doesn’t help address the shortage of nurses in South Africa.
The burden of disease in South Africa, coupled with the uneven spread of healthcare facilities means that it’s also a singularly challenging environment to work in. This means that retention policies, and initiatives that prioritise the well-being of healthcare workers are also important considerations.
It’s worth noting that over the past few decades, there have been a number of well-considered human resources strategies for the healthcare system in South Africa5. Unfortunately, these have suffered from inadequate implementation. This long-term planning and implementation is critical.
Ultimately, it means ensuring that we’re able to encourage young people to take up these worthy careers with the guarantee that once they qualify, their skills will be put to good use.
As the National Department of Health prepares to move South Africa toward the National Health Insurance scheme, the question of staffing becomes even more critical. It’s going to call for long-term strategies that will need to be implemented over generations.
References:
- Leshoro D. 179 000 job losses means South Africa now leads the world in unemployment [Internet]. Citypress. 2023 [cited 2023 June 5]. Available from: https://www.news24.com/citypress/business/sas-deepening-unemployment-headache-20230516
- [No title] [Internet]. [cited 2023 June 15]. Available from: https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=15407
- Health sector can create thousands of jobs in SA [Internet]. SABC News. 2019 [cited 2023 June 5]. Available from: https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/health-sector-can-create-thousands-of-jobs-in-sa/
- Francke RL. Nursing shortage puts rural South Africans at risk – report [Internet]. DFA. 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 6]. Available from: https://www.dfa.co.za/opinion-and-features/nursing-shortage-puts-rural-south-africans-at-risk-report-2355a0bd-ea21-4483-9429-cb9351ac0a1d/
- Critical shortage of doctors in SA – less than 1 doctor for every 1 000 patients [Internet]. Democratic Alliance. [cited 2023 June 7]. Available from: https://www.da.org.za/2022/05/critical-shortage-of-doctors-in-sa-less-than-1-doctor-for-every-1-000-patients#:~:text=09%20May%202022%20in%20News,doctors%20per%201%20000%20patients.
- Ryneveld Mv, Schneider H, Lehmann, U – Looking back to look forward: a review of human resources for health governance in South Africa from 1994 to 2018 [internet]: https://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12960-020-00536-1
