Abstract
BackgroundEmergency care is viewed as a fundamental human right in South Africa’s constitution. In the public sector, all emergency medical services (EMS) come under the Directorate: Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine at the National Department of Health (NDoH), which provides regulation, policy and oversight guidance to provincial structures.AimThe aim of the study is to understand the supply and status of human resources for EMS in South Africa.SettingThis research was undertaken for South Africa using the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) database from 2002 to 2019.MethodsA retrospective record-based review of the HPCSA database was undertaken to estimate the current registered and future need for emergency care personnel forecasted up to 2030.ResultsThere are 76% Basic Ambulance Assistants registered with HPCSA. An additional 96 000 personnel will be required in 2030 to maintain the current ratio of 95.9 registered emergency care personnel per 100 000 population. The profile of an emergency care personnel employed in South Africa is likely to be a black male in the age group of 30–39-years, residing in one of the economically better-resourced provinces.ConclusionIt is time that the current educational framework is revised. Policy interventions must be undertaken to avoid future shortages of the trained emergency care personnel within South Africa.
Highlights
Across the world, emergency conditions constitute a large part of the global burden of disease.[1,2,3] As the world population grows in numbers and age, there is an complementary increase in the demand for acute curative services response to life-threatening emergencies, acute exacerbation of chronic illnesses and several routine health problems that still require prompt action.[4]
Emergency care interventions and services must be integrated with primary care and public health measures to ensure comprehensive strengthening of health systems.[4]
For lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), it has been suggested that priority be placed on developing minimum guidelines for emergency care that may save lives[3]
Summary
Emergency conditions constitute a large part of the global burden of disease.[1,2,3] As the world population grows in numbers and age, there is an complementary increase in the demand for acute curative services response to life-threatening emergencies, acute exacerbation of chronic illnesses and several routine health problems that still require prompt action.[4]. Pre-hospital emergency care broadly has three components: Care in the community, care during transportation, which is related to access and care on arrival at the receiving health facility.[7] Emergency care is designed to overcome the factors most commonly implicated with preventable mortality, such as postponements in seeking care, access to a health facility and the provision of adequate care at the facility.[7] For lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), it has been suggested that priority be placed on developing minimum guidelines for emergency care that may save lives (and at what cost?)[3]. All emergency medical services (EMS) come under the Directorate: Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine at the National Department of Health (NDoH), which provides regulation, policy and oversight guidance to provincial structures
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
