South Africa is getting a new, sorely needed medical school

• The North West University has chosen to name its forthcoming medical school the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine.
• NWU intends to welcome the first cohort in this school in 2028.
• Established with the North West Department of Health and the private sector, the school hopes to address the dearth of medical professionals in the country.

Before this week began, South Africa was home to just 10 medical schools but the North West University (NWU) will soon open an eleventh.

The university on Tuesday announced the it would be naming the medical school the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine in honour of the late, iconic Archbishop. The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, Premier of the North West Province, Lazarus Mokgosi, as well as various bishops of the Anglican Church attended the naming ceremony on Tuesday.

The medical school is a collaborative effort between NWU, the North West Department of Health and the private sector according to a NWU blog post. Through the school, NWU hopes to help alleviate the shortage of healthcare practitioners in the country. At present, there are approximately 0.31 doctors per 1 000 citizens and 4.5 nurses per 1 000 people.

Chairperson of Council at NWU, Bert Sorgdrager explained why the university chose to name the medical school after Desmond Tutu.

“Desmond Tutu espoused core values that guided his life and work. Central to his philosophy was the belief in every individual’s intrinsic worth and dignity, irrespective of race, creed, or background. His commitment to human rights and equality was deeply rooted in the principle of ubuntu, which emphasises interconnectedness, compassion, and the idea that ‘I am because we are’. Desmond Tutu championed non-violence as a means of achieving social and political change, drawing inspiration from his faith. His approach to conflict resolution and reconciliation was grounded in the belief that forgiveness and understanding could overcome deep-seated divisions,” Sorgdrager said.

While the school has a name, it’s only set to welcome its first cohort of medical students in 2028. That date could change but for now, that’s the deadline NWU has set for itself.

“We are not merely building a school of bricks and mortar, we are laying the foundation for something much greater and more enduring. Today we open doors that will never close. Doors of opportunity, healing, compassion, and transformation. That is also why we have chosen the name of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He was not only a man of faith and moral courage, but also a fierce advocate for justice, equality, and human dignity. He understood, better than most, that the essence of humanity lies in our capacity to care, to heal, and to uplift one another. His life’s work taught us that no barrier is too great, no injustice too entrenched, and no dream too distant to be realised through perseverance and unity,” Anna Mokgokong, Chancellor of the NWU said in a statement.

As mentioned, South Africa’s patient to medical doctor ratio is woeful, especially compared to other African nations. While Cabo Verde and Eswatini are small nations that skew the numbers slightly, South African’s absence from the graph below is incredibly concerning. It’s interesting to note that Botswana outpaces Nigeria in medical doctors given the North African nation’s incredible number of medical schools.

[Header image – NWU Facebook]