The Faculty of Health launched the Rural Clinical School in Lusikisiki by iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Health, marking a significant milestone in advancing rural healthcare and medical education in South Africa.
Officially launched in February 2026 as only the second Rural Clinical School in the country, the initiative seeks to improve healthcare access and outcomes in underserved rural communities while providing high-quality, community-based clinical training for health sciences students.
Located at St Elizabeth Regional Hospital, the School operates through a hub-and-spoke model that connects four additional hospitals and community health centres. iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu Vice-Chancellor Professor Thandi Mgwebi described the Rural Clinical School as a "game-changing intervention in the delivery of quality healthcare services in rural communities."
Academic activities commenced in January 2026 with the first cohort of ten final-year MBChB students completing their clinical training within the rural healthcare environment.
