The North West Health Department and North West University (NWU) have signed a historic Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the establishment of the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine at the Potchefstroom Campus.
The medical school will be the first in the province and is expected to enroll the first students by 2028.
The department has hailed the medical school as a beacon of hope, which is envisioned to produce a high calibre of medical professionals who will assist in the development and acceleration of healthcare services upon qualification.
Professor Bismark Tyobeka, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the NWU, described the partnership as the future of healthcare in the province.
“We commit to this MoU because we are determined to equip the medical profession.
So, this procedural milestone is an embodiment of public private collaboration in service of the public good.
This is not just a ceremonial pledge of formality, but of shared vision, resoluteness and commitment to the future of healthcare in the North West Province,” said Professor Tyobeka.
Meanwhile, delivering his keynote address, MEC Sello Lehari labelled the School of Medicine a compelling and urgent need.
“By establishing our own medical school, the North West Province is stepping up to be part of the solution.
We’re investing in a pipeline of home-grown health professionals who understand our communities, the language of our patients, our challenges and who will be more likely to remain and serve here,” explained Lehari.
In addition, the MEC said the medical school will bring hope, dignity, and the right to quality healthcare to the province.
“The significance of placing a medical school in a predominantly rural province cannot be overstated.
Rural areas are often underserved, not only in terms of infrastructure and resources but also in the availability of skilled health workers.
A medical school in the North West will contribute to rural retention, improve health equity, and promote research focused on the specific health challenges of our communities,” remarked the MEC.
Lehari expressed optimism that the medical school will also contribute to advancements in healthcare by conducting ground-breaking studies that will lead to new treatments, technologies, and understanding of diseases.
“I also believe that this medical school’s collaboration with our hospitals and clinics will translate research into real-world solutions, thereby directly improving patient outcomes and shaping the future of medicine,” said Lehari.
The MEC lauded the cooperation between the department and NWU management to finally reach a milestone for the establishment of the medical school in the province.
