Is there really a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Has the Occupational Specific Dispensation, as a mechanism to attract and retain health workers in South Africa, leveled the playing field?

Table 1 Selected gross HRH salaries in national currency units and US dollars

NCU data	SA (Rand)^a		UK (£)	AUS ($)	CAN ($)	US ($)	Saudi Arabia (SR)
NCU data	Pre OSD	Post OSD^b	UK (£)	AUS ($)	CAN ($)	US ($)	Saudi Arabia (SR)
Prof Nurse	1105220 ($12416)^{^}	160032 ($18884)	23019³ ($34758)	55354⁶ ($41294)	63004⁸ ($53679)	62000¹¹	199176¹³ ($53180)
Med Officer Grade 2	247512 ($29206)	423846 ($50013)	38000⁴ ($57380)	98138⁷ ($73211)	121687⁹ ($103677)	181000¹²	295200¹⁴ ($78818)
Specialist Grade 2	461757 ($54487)	554109 ($65385)	95748⁵ ($144580)	325000⁷ ($242450)	320116¹⁰ ($272739)	321000¹²	440160¹⁴ ($117523)

^Figures in parentheses show average 2009 US dollar market rate equivalent [18].
¹[19]²[20]³[21]⁴[22] average of range. ⁵[23] average of range ⁶[24]⁷[25] average of range ⁸[26]⁹[27]¹⁰[28]¹¹[29]¹²[30]¹³[31]¹⁴[32].
^aThe SA data do not contain a rural allowance. Health workers operating in rural areas get an extra 18%.
^bThe OSD increase for South African nurses came into effect on 1^st July 2008 and represents a 24% increase for the registered nurse [9].

ISSN: 1471-2458