The implications of change in South African society for the health professions.

To address this problem, one has to look at (i) societal changes and future developments, (ii) changes in health care as such and (iii) the linkage between these two. In this respect we must realize that we are living in an era where economic, technological, demographic, social and political changes are accelerating. The interface between these changes results in the age of discontinuities as far as individual trends are concerned. To work therefore with projected futures amounts to brain gymnastics. A more realistic approach is to define the key drivers or trends and structures shaping the future of society and health care, and from this deduct the possible implications for health professions.