Dental specialist training in South Africa--demographic characteristics 1985-2004
Lalloo, R.; Naidoo, S.; Myburah, N.
Sadj Journal of the South African Dental Association 61(3): 110-112
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 1029-4864 PMID: 16796201 Document Number: 603523
This short communication complements a recently published dental undergraduate analysis, and analyses the demographic profile of dental specialists trained from 1985-2004, as well as that of the registrars in training (in 2005). A total of 309 dental specialists were trained from 1985-2004, of these 86% were males and 74% White. Of the registrars, two-thirds are males and a quarter Black. The dental faculties and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) face a significant challenge to find innovative ways to address these disparities, as well as the urban/rural and private/public sector maldistribution of dental specialists, and to develop a more rational basis for training dental specialists for the country. Dealing with these disparities should improve access to dental specialist care for the poor and rural populations.