Moroke Sekoboto
THE Ministry of Health is set to transform the Family Medicine School in Hlotse, Leribe, into a fully-fledged national medical school.
With support from the Lesotho-Boston Health Alliance (LeBoHA), the institution will operate through a network of clinical training sites, including Motebang Hospital in Hlotse, Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH) and the National Health Training Centre (NHTC) in Maseru.
The medical school, expected to begin operations in 2027, will offer undergraduate programmes such as the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), as well as postgraduate programmes in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Surgery and Internal Medicine.
To ensure compliance with international standards, the NHTC will be transferred to the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), granting it the autonomy required for accreditation by the Council on Higher Education (CHE).
Minister of Health, Selibe Mochoboroane, revealed this while presenting his ministry’s proposed M2.6 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year before Parliament this week.
He said the ministry’s priorities included strengthening primary healthcare, improving referral systems, enhancing the management of non-communicable diseases, establishing a medical school and upgrading infrastructure.
Mr Mochoboroane said plans to establish a medical school had long been delayed by limited resources.
“This has been a priority for many years without the necessary funding. However, under the current budget, we now have the resources to establish a medical school,” he said.
He said the existing Family Medicine School, opened in 2023, currently offers Family Medicine training and an internship.
“The plan is to upgrade the school into a fully-fledged medical school with support from our partners in Boston through LeBoHA. We will utilise facilities at Motebang Hospital, QMMH and the NHTC,” he said.
Mr Mochoboroane said the first intake of MBChB students is expected in July 2027, with postgraduate programmes to follow.
“We will begin with undergraduate training and later introduce specialist programmes in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Surgery and Internal Medicine. This will enable us to train our own specialists locally,” he said.
The minister also announced that M100 million allocated in the 2026/27 financial year would be for the continued construction of the country’s first national cancer treatment centre, which is expected to be completed between 2027 and 2028.
On regulatory reforms, Mr Mochoboroane said the government is establishing the Lesotho Medicines Regulatory Authority (LeMeRA) under the Medicines and Medical Devices Control Authority Act of 2023 to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines.
An allocation of M5 million will be set aside to establish offices for the authority, which is also expected to create jobs and generate revenue.
“Historically, imported medicines have bypassed registration and associated fees. By adopting regulatory models used in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, LeMeRA will ensure all medicines are properly registered, turning a regulatory gap into a sustainable revenue stream,” he said.
Addressing issues concerning the Christian Health Association of Lesotho (CHAL), Mr Mochoboroane said the government has signed a revised memorandum of understanding to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
The new agreement replaces previous five-year arrangements with a permanent framework, establishing CHAL and the government as equal partners in delivering healthcare services.
“This agreement builds on a partnership that began in 2007 and aims to improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas. The government will continue to procure the Essential Health Package from CHAL, which provides about 40 percent of health services in the country,” he said.
He added that the government has committed to settling a M156 million debt owed to CHAL and will ensure equitable distribution of medicines and medical supplies across all health facilities.
Efforts will also be made to harmonise salaries and benefits for healthcare workers across CHAL and government institutions, while CHAL staff will be included in training and loan bursary repayment programmes.
Unlike previous agreements, the new arrangement has no fixed expiry date and will be reviewed periodically to remain responsive to evolving healthcare needs.
“It will be implemented gradually through clear frameworks, including monitoring and evaluation systems led by a Joint Task Force and a government-CHAL coordinating unit,” Mr Mochoboroane said.
