University of Cape Town
We sponsor healthcare workers to attend UCT's world-class course on organ donation and end-of-life care.
Why this matters
South Africa has one of the lowest deceased organ donation rates in the world. A major reason is that healthcare workers often lack the confidence to identify donors or approach families. This two-day programme at UCT is designed to close that gap.
The course
Lectures, case studies, and high-fidelity simulations. You'll practice breaking bad news, brain death testing, donor optimisation, and donation after circulatory death.
Types of donation, possibilities, and benefits for recipients.
South African legal frameworks and ethical decision-making.
Breaking bad news and supporting families through difficult decisions.
Optimising care for potential donors and their families.
Who it's for
Anyone working in or studying towards a healthcare profession. Especially relevant if you work in ICU, emergency medicine, palliative care, or transplantation.
Schedule
Day 1
Day 2
courses delivered
professionals trained
expert faculty
course fee covered
Building capacity
By removing the cost barrier for nurses, allied health professionals, and students, we help expand South Africa's pool of trained practitioners—especially in underserved areas. This directly strengthens institutional capacity, advances national critical care goals, and improves family support in ICU and emergency settings.
Enhanced healthcare worker readiness and confidence
Stronger capacity for quality deceased donation programmes
Support for National Department of Health strategic goals
Improved interdisciplinary collaboration and family support
Delivery history
22–23 Oct 2024
18 participants. Tested and refined the course structure and simulation-based components.
11–12 Mar 2025
21 participants. Diverse disciplines reflecting increasing demand and national reach.
13–14 May 2025
19 participants. Further embedding interdisciplinary collaboration and best practice.
2026 schedule
24–25 Feb 2026
First offering of 2026. Open to all eligible healthcare professionals.
26–27 May 2026
Mid-year delivery for ICU, emergency, and palliative care staff.
13–14 Oct 2026
Final 2026 delivery. Sponsorship applications welcome.
"The course would not have been a success without grants supporting interdisciplinary attendance from multiple disciplines from across the country."
"Training healthcare professionals in this area is essential to building sustainable donation programs and aligning local practice with international quality standards."
"The simulations honestly closed the gaps of understanding for me. Not all courses allow it."
"The breaking bad news station offered me more confidence to approach this topic."
We cover the course fee (R5000) for a limited number of healthcare professionals and students each year. Our goal is simple: get more trained people into the system, especially in underserved areas.
Express interestLimited spots available. We review applications on a rolling basis.
If you don't need sponsorship, you can register directly with UCT. The course runs several times per year.
