13th WFOT Congress

Abstract

The impact of the government policies on occupational therapy in South Africa as a profession, both during the apartheid era and now when there is a democratically elected government is worth noting. While the apartheid government policies created a working enironment which was complex for therapists to render effective services, the democratically elected government policies poses demands such as community-based services, coping with the masses with limited resources as well as working with a diverse society. The need to implement new approaches and go beyond the medical model is more essential at the moment and this move will be in line with the government health policy (Primary Health Care Approach).