Waikato too Establish New Medical School, Aiming to Address Doctor Shortage
A new medical school is set to open at the University of Waikato in 2028, with the first graduates expected to enter the workforce by 2032. The four-year program is designed to train doctors with a focus on general practice and service in regional and rural communities, a move the government hopes will help alleviate New Zealand’s healthcare workforce challenges.
This initiative comes despite previous offers from the University of auckland and the University of Otago to increase their medical student intakes, provided government support was available. Associate Professor Megan Gibbons, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Health Sciences at Otago, expressed disappointment that the government did not pursue this “more cost-effective option” but acknowledged that any investment in the health workforce is a positive step, particularly for rural and underserved areas.
The University of Waikato’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Quigley, hailed the announcement as a “landmark moment,” emphasizing that the new program will adopt a “fundamentally different” approach to training doctors. He stated that the curriculum will be designed to produce more graduates who aspire to become General Practitioners and are committed to working in regional and rural settings.
Professor Jo Lane, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Health at the University of Waikato, added that the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine’s curriculum will specifically target the needs of the country’s healthcare system. A key feature will be prioritizing clinical placements in regional and rural health settings, enabling graduates to gain experience with diverse populations and foster strong community ties.
