Politics blog week of 21/07
Government will co-fund new Waikato University med school
A third med school is locked in.
Health Minister Simeon Brown has confirmed the Government will front up with $82.5 million to co-fund Waikato University's plan to establish its own medical school.
The project, at this stage, is budgeted to cost $232 million. The university itself will fund the remaining $150 million of that bill.
“Today’s decision will enable the University of Waikato to begin construction on new teaching facilities later this year and start planning for clinical placements," Brown said, following today's Cabinet meeting.
The benefits of this new school would start be realised around 2028, he said. From then, he said New Zealand would have the capacity to train 120 extra doctors each year.
At the moment, just two universities offer training for doctors. That is Otago University and the University of Auckland, but both universities have training facilities around the country.
Universities Minister Shane Reti, who first promised to build this third medical school during the 2023 election campaign, said this announcement was a win for the Waikato and health sector.
“By expanding access to medical training, we’re creating new opportunities for students from across the region and beyond, while also helping to future-proof the local workforce," he said.
Health Minister Simeon Brown has confirmed the Government will front up with $82.5 million to co-fund Waikato University's plan to establish its own medical school.
The project, at this stage, is budgeted to cost $232 million. The university itself will fund the remaining $150 million of that bill.
“Today’s decision will enable the University of Waikato to begin construction on new teaching facilities later this year and start planning for clinical placements," Brown said, following today's Cabinet meeting.
The benefits of this new school would start be realised around 2028, he said. From then, he said New Zealand would have the capacity to train 120 extra doctors each year.
At the moment, just two universities offer training for doctors. That is Otago University and the University of Auckland, but both universities have training facilities around the country.
Universities Minister Shane Reti, who first promised to build this third medical school during the 2023 election campaign, said this announcement was a win for the Waikato and health sector.
“By expanding access to medical training, we’re creating new opportunities for students from across the region and beyond, while also helping to future-proof the local workforce," he said.