Effects of Brain Drain on the South African Health Sector; Analysis of the Dynamics of its Push Factors

  • Victor H. Mlambo University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa
  • Toyin Cotties Adetiba University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa
Keywords: Immigration, Brain drain, South Africa, Socio-economic Development

Abstract

While there has been a plethora of studies that addresses migration in Africa, many have yet to successfully unpack the effects of brain drain on the South African health sector. Using textual analysis of the available literature relevant to the topic under consideration; this work seeks to identify the major structural and socio-economic push factors that drive the migration of health professionals in South Africa, relying on Revestain’s laws of migration and Lee’s push/pull theory of migration. The study also looks at explaining other factors that contribute to the migration of health professionals in South Africa. We argue that for South Africa to retain health professionals, the government needs to increase the training of health workers, improve their working conditions and security, upgrade infrastructure and ensure availability of resources as well as develop a more open immigration policy prioritizing skilled immigration.

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Published
2017-09-04
How to Cite
Mlambo, V. H., & Adetiba, T. C. (2017). Effects of Brain Drain on the South African Health Sector; Analysis of the Dynamics of its Push Factors. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 9(4(J), 62-72. https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v9i4(J).1822
Section
Research Paper