South African Academic Health—the future challenge

In South Africa, significant changes in Academic Health have taken place since the first democratic elections in 1994. Academic Health came from a separated academic hospital, departmental-based curriculum and research focussed on achievement, and an abundance of money, to a position of integrated s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health policy (Amsterdam) 2004-02, Vol.67 (2), p.167-172
Main Author: van Zyl, G.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Health
Academic Medical Centers - organization & administration
Academic Medical Centers - trends
Administration
Budgets
Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - organization & administration
Education
Forecasting
Health
Health administration
Health policy
Health services
Hospital Administrators - education
Hospital Administrators - standards
Hospital Restructuring
Leadership
Management
Medical centers
Medical sector
Medical service
Organizational change
Organizational Innovation
Organizational Objectives
Policy studies
Professional Competence
Professionalism
Research Support as Topic
Service delivery
South Africa
Staff Development
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Summary:In South Africa, significant changes in Academic Health have taken place since the first democratic elections in 1994. Academic Health came from a separated academic hospital, departmental-based curriculum and research focussed on achievement, and an abundance of money, to a position of integrated service delivery with specific reference to primary health care, separation of service levels, a new integrated curriculum, research focussed according to the need and contract research, and financial constraints with limited budgets. The management of this change is a task challenging the manager in all fields of Academic Health. Leaders need to know their environment and organisation to be able to manage change. Academic Health centres are experiencing major changes as a result of the effects of managed care, reduced rate and growing expenditure on health services. In addition to restructuring of the clinical services, Academic Health centres are being challenged to sustain their academic mission and priorities in the face of resource constraints. In order to tackle these challenges, institutions need physicians in administrative positions at all levels who can provide leadership and thoughtful managerial initiatives. The future challenge for managers focuses on service delivery, research, health education and training, Academic Health management, professionalism and financial management.
ISSN:0168-8510
1872-6054
DOI:10.1016/S0168-8510(03)00114-3