Reasons for doctor migration from South Africa

Bezuidenhout, Marlene M; Joubert, Gina; Hiemstra, LA; Struwig, Magdalena C.

doi:10.1080/20786204.2009.10873850

Cited by 65 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Research by Van Rooyen (2000) indicates that violent crime is the reason for 60 per cent of emigrants leaving the country. Similar findings are reported by Bezuidenhout et al (2009), who found that 76 per cent of doctors who emigrated rated the high crime rate as the most important reason other than financial considerations.…”

Section: Implications For Economic Growthsupporting

confidence: 77%

The opportunity cost of the upkeep of the criminal justice system in South Africa from 1980 to 2006

Villiers

Nel

2010

SAJEMS

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South African crime rates rose to unacceptably high levels between 1980 and 2006. As a result, vast amounts of funds were devoted to the upkeep of the criminal justice system – correctional services, justice and the police. Although it is necessary to spend a certain amount on the criminal justice system, in South Africa this expenditure was excessive. The excess funds that were spent on the upkeep of the criminal justice system could have covered the cost of financing the entire backlog in schooling facilities and a large part of the current housing shortage.

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Section: Implications For Economic Growthsupporting

confidence: 77%

The opportunity cost of the upkeep of the criminal justice system in South Africa from 1980 to 2006

Villiers

Nel

2010

SAJEMS

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“…[16] The focus on competence is also in stark contrast to other international studies, which highlighted clinical outcomes as their top research priorities. [17,18] Emergency medicine is still a relatively young specialty in SA, with the focus on competence revealing that it is still establishing its place in the broader medical field.…”

Section: Fig 2 Summary Of Response Statistics For All Study Phasesmentioning

confidence: 70%

Emergency care research priorities in South Africap

2015

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Background. Emergency care research is rarely undertaken in low-and middle-income countries. A manageable 'road map' for research in South African (SA) emergency care is needed to address research gaps. Objective. To identify, collate and prioritise research topics from identified knowledge gaps in emergency care in SA. Methods. Seventy-six individuals were invited to participate in a modified Delphi study. Participants were requested to suggest important research topics before rating them. Consensus was achieved when >75% of participants strongly agreed or disagreed. Participants then ranked the agreed statements before selecting the most appropriate methodology relating to study design, funding and collaboration. Results. Three hundred and fifty topics were suggested by 31 participants. Topics were collated into 123 statements before participants rated them. Consensus was achieved for 39 statements. The highest-ranked priority in the prehospital group was to determine which prehospital interventions improve outcomes in critically ill patients. The competence of emergency care providers in performing common lifesaving skills was deemed the most important in clinical emergency care. Implementing and reviewing quality improvement systems scored the highest under general systems and safety management. Only 22 statements achieved consensus regarding study design. The National Department of Health was the preferred funding source, while private organisations and emergency care societies were identified as possible collaborative partners. Conclusion. This study provides expert consensus on priority research areas in emergency care in SA as a guide for emergency care providers to ensure evidence-based care that is relevant to the SA population.

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“…Financial reasons have previously been cited as the major factor for South African health workers to migrate (29). However, this study found that remuneration is no longer as influential as it once was.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Security and skills: the two key issues in health worker migration

Bidwell

Laxmikanth

Blacklock

et al. 2014

Global Health Action

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BackgroundMigration of health workers from Africa continues to undermine the universal provision of quality health care. South Africa is an epicentre for migration – it exports more health workers to high-income countries than any other African country and imports health workers from its lower-income neighbours to fill the gap. Although an inter-governmental agreement in 2003 reduced the very high numbers migrating from South Africa to the United Kingdom, migration continues to other high-income English-speaking countries and few workers seem to return although the financial incentive to work abroad has lessened. A deeper understanding of reasons for migration from South Africa and post-migration experiences is therefore needed to underpin policy which is developed in order to improve retention within source countries and encourage return.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 South African doctors and nurses who had migrated to the United Kingdom. Interviews explored factors influencing the decision to migrate and post-migration experiences.ResultsSalary, career progression, and poor working conditions were not major push factors for migration. Many health workers reported that they had previously overcome these issues within the South African healthcare system by migrating to the private sector. Overwhelmingly, the major push factors were insecurity, high levels of crime, and racial tension. Although the wish to work and train in what was perceived to be a first-class care system was a pull factor to migrate to the United Kingdom, many were disappointed by the experience. Instead of obtaining new skills, many (particularly nurses) felt they had become ‘de-skilled’. Many also felt that working conditions and opportunities for them in the UK National Health Service (NHS) compared unfavourably with the private sector in South Africa.ConclusionsMigration from South Africa seems unlikely to diminish until the major concerns over security, crime, and racial tensions are resolved. However, good working conditions in the private sector in South Africa provide an occupational incentive to return if security did improve. Potential migrants should be made more aware of the risks of losing skills while working abroad that might prejudice return. In addition, re-skilling initiatives should be encouraged.

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Reasons for doctor migration from South Africa

Cited by 65 publications

References 13 publications

The opportunity cost of the upkeep of the criminal justice system in South Africa from 1980 to 2006

The opportunity cost of the upkeep of the criminal justice system in South Africa from 1980 to 2006

Emergency care research priorities in South Africap

Security and skills: the two key issues in health worker migration

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