NWU takes further steps towards opening of Medical School
The North-West University (NWU) took a closer step to its goal of establishing the NWU Medical School after the Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla gave his ministerial support.
The North-West University (NWU) took a closer step to its goal of establishing the NWU Medical School after the Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla gave his ministerial support.
According to a press statement that the NWU released on Friday, 22 December, the goal is to officially have the intake of first year students at the Medical School by 2028.
“I am pleased to inform you that the National Department of Health (NDOH) was happy with your university’s initiative of setting up a medical training programme that has unique features of integrating primary health care early into the training of medical doctors. I am therefore pleased to provide your institution with my support in principle. This is subject to the North-West University satisfying other steps of the accreditation process,” stated Dr. Phaahla.
According to a statement from the NWU, the support of the Minister is a culmination of the good work that has been done over the years by the NWU Medical School Task Team comprising members of the NWU Council under the leadership of the chairperson, Mr Bert Sorgdrager, the University management led by the vice-chancellor, Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, NWU chancellor, Dr Anna Mokgokong, and members of the North-West provincial government under the leadership of the Premier.
“The NWU will earnestly discuss and finalise the specific details of the NWU Medical School with the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, and the Department of Higher Education (DHET). In addition, the university will commence with discussions and consultations with relevant structures such as the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) regarding the curriculum and accreditation thereof.”
The NWU has the following features that they are proposing to the relevant regulatory institutions regarding the NWU Medical School:
- a) The lived context of community and distributed clinical training platform that enables a longitudinal, self-directed, integrated, interprofessional, and transdisciplinary learning environment.
- b) The duration of the programme to be six years. This is divided between three years integrated preclinical period followed by three years of clinical training, and thereafter internship and community service.
- c) Klerksdorp/Tshepong hospital complex and affiliated hospitals and clinics in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District to serve as the initial clinical training platform; and
- d) The initial enrolment to be 50 students and gradually increase to 100 or more over time as the clinical training platform strengthens and expands.
“I am thrilled with the support from the Minister of Health. The Task Team has done extremely well in ensuring that all stakeholders are on board towards the establishment of the NWU Medical School. This significant milestone gives us the strength and courage to continue to mobilise the necessary partnerships and resources for the NWU Medical School,” stated Mr Bert Sorgdrager, NWU Council chairperson.
“The NWU Management is ready to present the core details of the curriculum to the DHET, CHE and HPCSA for accreditation. The team has already compiled a comprehensive proposal that will be presented to these structures early in 2024. I look forward to discussing the details with our partners in both the public and private sectors in South Africa and beyond to ensure that all hands remain on deck towards the implementation of our plans for the NWU Medical School,” added Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, NWU principal and vice-chancellor.
