South Africa’s protracted struggle for equal distribution and equitable access – still not there

Table 1 Public sector and non-public sector distribution of selected health professionals (2010)

Sector		Public sector		Non-public sector*		Public/non-public ratio
Professional category	Total registered	Number	%	Number	%	Public/non-public ratio
Medical practitioners	36 912	11 309	30.6	25 603	69.4	1:2.2
Dentists	5320	770	14.5	4550	85.5	1:5.9
Pharmacists	12 218	2966	24.3	9252	75.7	1:3.1
Physiotherapists	5777	1009	17.5	4768	82.5	1:4.7
Occupational therapists	3508	838	23.9	2670	76.1	1:3.1
Psychologists	7037	498	7.1	6539	92.9	1:6.6
Registered nurses	115 244	51 966	45.1	63 278	54.9	1:1.2

*The category, non-public sector, should not simply be equated to private-sector health professionals. While it does indeed include private health professionals deployed in the private (for-profit) health sector, it also includes many health professionals who are retired, not actively practising or working overseas, and also health professionals deployed in the non-governmental organisation (NGO), faith-based organisation (FBO) and other private-not-for-profit sectors.

ISSN: 1478-4491