Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has outlined plans for the development of a new health and allied sciences university into which the Medical University of Southern Africa (Medunsa) campus of the University of Limpopo, located in Ga-Rankuwa, will be incorporated.

This followed the completion of report and recommendations by a joint technical task team appointed by the Minister in July last year to advise himself and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on the unbundling and incorporation process of the university.

Based on these submissions – as well as international competitive standards, local healthcare challenges, the strategies intended to address these, and the range of health science programmes currently available across the country – an extensive Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) was recommended.

This included all programmes currently offered on the Medunsa campus; certain programmes currently offered at other universities, such as optometry, prosthetics and orthotics, rehabilitation, health promotion, veterinary sciences and emergency medical services; and various other programmes, which were becoming increasingly internationally prominent.

“These include biomedical technology, bioengineering and medical informatics and companion programmes in areas such as health information technology, health science education, aviation medicine, medical law, medical social work and health management,” Nzimande said on Tuesday.

In addition, a range of postgraduate diploma programmes would be offered to enhance the continuing professional development of health sector workers.

“Where resources allow and demand exists, this new university should also consider developing and offering additional allied health science programmes, such as homeopathy and various other traditional, complementary and alternative medicines,” Nzimande added.

Elaborating on the development of the university, he further noted that the expanded and extended PQM would need to be supported by a carefully planned and phased-in expansion of the necessary academic infrastructure, facilities, space and clinical training arrangements, including accommodation for the envisaged increases in student enrolments.

To support the projected increases in student enrolments  – a headcount of 7 000 students by 2019 and 10 000 by 2024 – existing space on the Medunsa campus would need to be modified, reassigned and better utilised, he said.

Several new buildings and facilities would be required, including purpose-built administration, student and science and technology buildings, larger teaching venues, an expanded library building and additional recreational facilities.

“Most important is the construction of a new Level 3 Academic Hospital, for which the Department of Health is currently conducting a feasibility study,” Nzimande noted.

In addition, the new university's clinical training platform would likely extend north and west of the Medunsa campus to include the Bojanala district of the North West and Regions 1 and 2 of the Tshwane metropolitan area in Gauteng.

Commenting on the value of the new university, Nzimande estimated that the total cost of new buildings and extensions, alterations and renewals of existing buildings for the first five-year phase, from 2014 to 2019, was likely to require a minimum initial capital injection of almost R1-billion.

Of this, some R725-million would be allocated to new buildings and other construction, R33-million to new off-campus housing for clinical training purposes and around R181-million to extensions, alterations and renewals to existing buildings.

To expedite the transitional and incorporation processes, a protocol for engagement between the council of the University of Limpopo and the interim council of the new health and allied sciences university had been prepared, with the Department of Higher Education and Training acting as facilitator.

This protocol, which provided a framework for effective communication, interaction, planning, preparation, implementation and mutual support between the parties during the transitional period, would, after due discussion, be published as a schedule upon promulgation of the incorporation of the Medunsa campus into the new university.

“This new health and allied sciences university will constitute a significant step towards both expanding and improving quality and equity in health care education in South Africa.

“By training a new generation of health professionals who are well versed in community-based and patient-centred primary health care, the new university will help to improve the wellbeing of the many South Africans still marginalised by poverty and [a] lack of access to healthcare,” Nzimande concluded.