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A historic joint workshop between S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) and Upper West Regional Hospital has set in motion plans to establish a School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, and a Teaching Hospital in the Upper West Region. The initiative aims to address regional health workforce shortages and improve healthcare delivery through collaborative training and research.
On June 16, 2025, SDD-UBIDS and the Upper West Regional Hospital convened a landmark consultative workshop to explore the creation of a medical school and teaching hospital. The meeting, chaired by SDD-UBIDS Vice-Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile and attended by key health and academic leaders, focused on strategies for launching a Faculty of Health Sciences with departments in public health, nursing, allied health, medical sciences, and pharmacy. The proposal also includes a Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control.
Presentations highlighted the region’s need for more health professionals and the hospital’s readiness, despite a current bed capacity just below the 300 required for teaching hospital status. The plan calls for phased programme rollouts, flexible learning models, and leveraging existing faculty and hospital staff. Stakeholders stressed the importance of partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and formal agreements to ensure success.
The workshop concluded with commitments to finalize proposals, mobilize resources, and begin the accreditation process, marking a significant step toward improving healthcare education and services in the region.
Source: channel247online.com/Rafiq Nungor Adam
