23rd Symposium on Diseases Relevant to South Africa
The 23rd Symposium on Diseases Relevant to South Africa (SDRSA) will take place from 7–9 October 2026 at the North-West University (NWU), Potchefstroom Campus.
The SDRSA is recognised for its high-quality, clinically relevant programme and commitment to continuing professional development. Each year, delegates have the opportunity to engage with leading experts and respected professionals from across South Africa. The programme brings together some of the country’s foremost authorities in their respective fields, ensuring a stimulating, informative and academically enriching experience.
A Brief History
The NWU School of Pharmacy, Potchefstroom Campus, has a proud and distinguished history as the oldest pharmacy school in South Africa. Since graduating its first class of four pharmacists in 1946, the School has grown significantly and currently accommodates more than 900 full-time undergraduate students and 100 postgraduate students annually.
The School’s substantial student body and extensive alumni network have positioned it as one of the largest and most influential pharmacy schools in South Africa. Through its graduates, academic programmes, research and professional engagement, the School continues to make a significant contribution to the pharmacy profession and the delivery of primary healthcare services in South Africa.
Why the SDRSA?
As part of its commitment to promoting lifelong learning and continuing professional development, the NWU School of Pharmacy established the Annual Symposium on Diseases Relevant to South Africa.
The first symposium was held in 2004 as a relatively small academic meeting primarily attended by final-year pharmacy students. Since then, the SDRSA has evolved into a well-established national event, recognised for its focused, clinically relevant and continued professional development programmes.
Over the course of the symposium, delegates are exposed to a diverse range of clinically relevant topics, including infectious diseases, psychiatry, diabetes, dermatological conditions and other diseases of importance to the South African healthcare context. The programme combines expert-led lectures and interactive workshops, providing delegates with an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and apply current evidence and clinical principles to practice.
A key strength of the SDRSA is the calibre and diversity of its speakers. The programme features respected clinicians, specialists and subject-matter experts from across South Africa, ensuring that delegates benefit from current knowledge, practical insights and multidisciplinary perspectives.
Why the NWU School of Pharmacy?
The NWU School of Pharmacy in Potchefstroom provides an ideal setting for a continued professional development focused on diseases, healthcare and professional education.
Pharmacy is intrinsically linked to the prevention and management of a broad spectrum of diseases and health conditions. As a result, a School of Pharmacy provides a natural academic environment for an event dedicated to advancing healthcare knowledge and professional development.
Furthermore, with the NWU that does not have a medical school yet, it is allowing the School of Pharmacy to collaborate with lecturers, clinicians and specialists affiliated with medical schools and healthcare institutions across South Africa. This creates an inclusive and multidisciplinary platform while minimising potential institutional conflicts of interest.
Potchefstroom is also conveniently situated approximately 90 minutes from Johannesburg and O.R. Tambo International Airport, making the city readily accessible to delegates travelling from across the country. Its location allows healthcare professionals, lecturers and sponsors from Gauteng, the Free State, Mpumalanga and surrounding provinces to travel to the symposium conveniently, whether for the full event or as a day visit.
Who Attends the SDRSA?
The SDRSA attracts a diverse multidisciplinary audience of healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, medical practitioners, specialists, dietitians, psychologists and nurses. The symposium is also attended by final-year pharmacy students from the NWU School of Pharmacy and other Health-Sciences invitational students.
This combination of experienced healthcare professionals and emerging practitioners creates a dynamic learning environment that encourages knowledge-sharing, professional interaction and multidisciplinary collaboration.
With approximately 300 delegates attending each year, the SDRSA has established itself as an important platform for continuing professional development and engagement within the South African healthcare community.
