However it was "not in a position to comment" on National’s announcement yesterday it would revive plans for a new medical school at the University of Waikato along with funding another 50 placements for the Universities of Otago and Auckland from 2025.
Otago Medical School acting dean Prof Tim Wilkinson said building a healthcare workforce that met current and future needs was important, and the university appreciated the announcement of additional medical school places.
The boost would be in addition to the 50-person increase announced by the Government last month for the Universities of Otago and Auckland and set to take effect next year.
Last month’s announcement did not specify how the number would be split between the two universities, but Prof Wilkinson yesterday confirmed Otago — the larger of the two medical schools — would gain 20 more places next year, while Auckland would gain 30.
This brought Otago’s domestic admissions cap to 302 students a year.
The university would be ready to handle another increase in 2025, he said.
"We have capacity to train more students.
"However, it is not just about putting more students into the classroom.
"It requires co-ordination with health providers to ensure there is adequate access to clinical training in the community."
Asked about the university’s opinion on the impact of a third medical school, Prof Wilkinson said it did not have the full details and was not in a position to comment on specifics.
He said yesterday one of Otago’s strengths was interdisciplinary teaching and learning with other healthcare education providers, such as Te Pūkenga.
"We also have a history of many decades of teaching healthcare and building relationships in rural communities.
"Therefore, we have a deep understanding of rural communities and healthcare and have much to offer."
