South Africa has two institutions among Africa’s six entries in the global top 100 academic medical centre rankings for 2026, with one Cape Town hospital securing a place among the world’s top 25.
According to Brand Finance’s Global Top 250 Hospitals 2026 report, Groote Schuur Hospital ranked 25th worldwide, while Tygerberg Hospital climbed to 63rd in the latest assessment.
The ranking also features institutions from Egypt and Morocco, making the three countries the only African nations represented in the global top 100.
South Africa’s medical centres feature prominently
Groote Schuur Hospital improved from 26th position in 2025 to 25th in 2026, increasing its brand-strength score from 73.8 to 74.1 out of 100.
The Cape Town institution is recognised for its role in medical education and training.
Brand Finance identified it as the world’s leading academic medical centre for teaching in its 2026 study.
Groote Schuur is the primary teaching hospital for the University of Cape Town’s medical school and has an established history in medical research and specialist healthcare.
Tygerberg Hospital recorded an even larger improvement in its global position, moving from 76th in 2025 to 63rd in 2026.
According to Brand Finance’s regional analysis, Tygerberg received a perfect score for integrating teaching, research and patient care.
Egypt and Morocco also make the list
Egypt’s Qasr El Eyni Hospital ranked 27th globally, making it the second-highest-ranked African institution in the assessment.
The Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University, also in Egypt, placed 43rd.
Morocco’s Mohammed VI University Hospital Center ranked 56th, while CHU Ibn Rochd secured 96th position, completing Africa’s six entries in the top 100.
The Mohammed VI institution dropped from 37th place in the previous ranking, while several other African entries also experienced changes in their positions.
What does the medical centres ranking measure?
Brand Finance evaluates academic medical centres across three pillars: patient treatment, medical research, and education and training.
Its 2026 study drew on research involving 2 500 healthcare professionals across 30 countries, assessing perceptions of hospital brands among doctors, surgeons and other healthcare professionals.
Globally, Johns Hopkins Medicine retained its position as the world’s strongest hospital brand, followed by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The findings highlight the international recognition of African institutions that combine clinical services with medical education and research.
However, the ranking measures brand strength and professional perceptions rather than providing a comprehensive assessment of hospital affordability, waiting times or patient outcomes.