Career mobility of anatomical pathologists from the public to private sector in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The aim of this paper is to assess the reasons for and extent of the mobility of anatomical pathologists from the public to the private sectors. The literature on South Africa’s health care workers is dominated by a focus on clinical practitioners. As a result, the work and careers of non-clinical medical specialists such as anatomical pathologists has been ignored. This paper represents the first study in South Africa into the careers of Anatomical pathologists. In 2011, in-depth interviews were conducted with 70% of the population of anatomical pathologists in Kwazulu-Natal.  My fieldwork reveals that firstly Anatomical Pathologists are considered the invisible backbone of the health care system, remain in short supply nationally, and have preference to work in the private sector despite salaries being equitable between sectors. Secondly an examination of career pathing possibilities for these specialists in the public and private sectors reveals reasons for this mobility.  These reasons include managerial styles, autonomy over career development, work flexibility, and greater long term financial rewards. Thirdly I contend that the nature of the work performed by anatomical pathologists requires their careers to be managed differently from clinical medical specialists.  Fourthly I suggest that South African studies on medical doctors needs to distinguish between laboratory medical specialist and clinical medical specialists for more effective career policy interventions. Fifthly I suggest that the divide between public and private sectors with regard to anatomical pathologists is not useful and needs to be examined more critically. Finally I argue that South African industrial sociology, which has traditionally focused on work and occupations in the manufacturing sectors’ needs to be more inclusive of the studies of professions and occupational groups in the services sector.