Distribution of health personnel in the Republic of South Africa with special reference to medical practitioners.
Data from various sources indicate that there is no shortage of medical practitioners in the RSA. This was confirmed in a 1990 survey by the Department of National Health and Population Development. The perceived shortage is relative in nature and due to a geographical and functional maldistribution. The majority (77%) of medical practitioners reside in metropolitan areas in the RSA; the ratio of doctors to members of the population is 1:696. Only 23% of medical practitioners practise in non-metropolitan areas; the calculated ratio is 1:1 920. The overall ratio in the self-governing territories is 1:15 272 and compares unfavourably with the ratios in non-metropolitan magisterial districts in the RSA. The medical practitioner/population ratio varies fifty-fold between the metropolitan areas in the RSA and the essentially rural self-governing territory of Lebowa (1:30 449). The registered medical practitioner/population ratios for the various development regions vary from 1:672 to 1:7 642. Failure to address these imbalances will have serious implications for the future rendering of acceptable and equitable health care.
Benade
M M
MM
Department of National Health and Population Development, Pretoria.
D003710:Demography; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D013019:South Africa