The University of Oxford has received a further £2 million donation from Fondation Docteur Sadok Besrour, deepening its efforts to expand primary health care research and education in Tunisia
and reinforcing its global health mission.
The latest contribution builds on the Foundation’s substantial £8.4 million gift in 2025, aimed at advancing primary care worldwide. Together, these investments highlight a growing international focus on strengthening health systems through academic leadership, training, and research partnerships.
The new funding will be directed through Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, a globally recognised centre for research into community-based care and health systems. The programme will focus specifically on developing academic primary health care capacity in Tunisia.
Building foundations for long-term impact
Initial plans for the funding include several key initiatives:
- A nationwide assessment of Tunisia’s academic primary health care landscape, identifying strengths, gaps, and future priorities
- The creation of a Professorship in Primary Care within Tunisia to provide sustained academic leadership
- The development of structured educational pathways to train future leaders in academic primary health care
These measures are designed to strengthen research output, improve leadership in the field, and support the development of evidence-based care systems tailored to regional needs.
The programme will be delivered in close partnership with the Tunis El Manar University, ensuring alignment with national health priorities and promoting locally driven, sustainable progress.
Oxford’s long tradition of philanthropy
This latest donation continues a centuries-old tradition of philanthropic support at Oxford. Since its early colleges were established in the medieval period, benefactors have played a pivotal role in shaping the university’s growth. Historic endowments funded colleges such as Balliol College and All Souls College, while modern donations have increasingly targeted global challenges, from climate research to public health.
In recent decades, Oxford has emerged as a major hub for global health philanthropy, attracting major gifts to support vaccine development, epidemiology, and primary care systems worldwide. Donations like the one from Fondation Docteur Sadok Besrour reflect a broader shift toward collaborative, international solutions to healthcare inequalities.
Looking ahead
Further details about how the Tunisia-focused programme will be implemented are expected in the coming months. As Oxford continues to expand its global partnerships, the initiative signals a sustained commitment to strengthening primary care where it is needed most—through research, education, and long-term collaboration. Photo by Kaofenlio, Wikimedia commons.