Funding priorities
Health Care
Strengthening Medical Research and Service Delivery
Centre for Clinical Research, Innovation and Translation
Poor healthcare delivery and the public outcry for a more responsive service stand as the principal concern of UCT's Health Sciences Faculty. It has, in turn, identified the need for strengthening clinical expertise and infrastructure. The Centre for Clinical Research, Innovation and Translation (CCRIT) will focus on the most significant health problems of South Africa and the wider continent, including communicable and non-communicable diseases. A comprehensive plan of action will roll out multidisciplinary research projects, enabling greater collaboration between public health professionals together with clinical investigators. Apart from providing for urgent training and specialization needs, the Centre will also provide resources in which advances in basic scientific knowledge will be translated into new or improved methods of health care. In sparing no effort to advance the process of new clinical investigation, CCRIT will facilitate a range of key services to investigators, including novel technologies and bioinformatics support. In this way it will promote collaboration with other universities and industries to enhance its mission.
Centre for Substance Abuse
Substance abuse in South Africa has reached epic proportions, now twice the global norm. Its ravaging effect on family life and the larger social fabric of our communities is alarming. The Central Drug Authority of South Africa also reveals that substance abuse costs the economy more than R20billion a year. However, despite these dire consequences, the quality of treatment for substance abuse disorders remains poor. A number of factors contribute to this tragic situation. These include social stigma, the fact that key decision-makers do not consider substance abuse disorders to be medical disorders, and the problem of insufficient funding for research. The Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT is spearheading the establishment of a Centre for Substance Abuse Studies to provide more substantive data around this issue. The Centre will investigate intrinsic elements of abuse and the development of effective, sustainable treatment programmes. The Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT is well placed to drive this initiative since it has a strong commitment to psychiatric sub-specialities, as well as being located close to communities with high prevalences of substance abuse.
Faculty of Health Sciences Centenary
UCT's Faculty of Health Sciences celebrates 100 years of educating some of the finest minds in the country and producing among the greatest medical advances from Africa. Since the birth of the Faculty in 1912, it has grown in size, scope and impact with around 3000 students now across multiple disciplines. It has a strong reputation for research excellence, producing an average of more than one new research publication every day and playing a vital role in supporting the country's future health practitioners and medical researchers.
Today, with the stark reality of vast and growing health needs of South Africa's population, the Faculty must draw on all available resources to continue its crucial role in bringing better health to the nation. The 100th anniversary in 2012 presents an opportunity to recognise the impact of the Faculty's past and celebrate the standing it has achieved today. A range of commemorative initiatives are planned, including a centenary issue of the South African Medical Journal. Most importantly, this landmark year provides an ideal platform for the Faculty to start building its next era. The Faculty of Health Sciences needs your support to continue developing new education, research and infrastructure. This is to ensure a strong and sustainable future, strengthening the health of the people of South Africa and beyond.