Eronda
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- Dec 16, 2025
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The Pharmacy Professionals Association of Uganda (PPAU) has strongly opposed the government's decision to stop funding medical interns, arguing that internship financing is a strategic investment in Uganda's healthcare system rather than an avoidable public expenditure.
In a post addressed to Health Minister-designate Dr Chris Baryomunsi and issued through the association's X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, PPAU said the debate on medical internship funding should focus on the long-term value generated by the programme rather than its immediate fiscal cost.
“The question should not simply be how much medical internships cost. Instead, policymakers and stakeholders should ask: What would Uganda’s healthcare system look like without adequately trained and supported health professionals?” the association stated.
Medical internship is a mandatory one-year supervised training programme undertaken by graduates of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and other health professions before full professional registration. During this period, interns are deployed in hospitals nationwide where they provide clinical services under supervision.
According to figures cited by PPAU from the Ministry of Health, Uganda currently spends approximately Shs35.7 billion annually on medical interns and Senior House Officers (SHOs), supporting about 2,329 healthcare trainees deployed across public health facilities.
The association noted that each intern receives about Shs1 million per month as an allowance, alongside additional funds covering statutory obligations and administrative costs.
While acknowledging the figure may appear substantial, PPAU argued that it represents a small share of government spending while supporting a workforce that delivers essential healthcare services to millions of Ugandans.
“The internship allowance helps sustain these young professionals during one of the most demanding periods of their careers. Without adequate support, many may face significant financial hardship despite contributing full-time clinical services,” it said.
PPAU warned that reducing support could discourage graduates from joining or remaining in the health sector at a time when Uganda continues to face shortages of skilled workers, especially in rural areas.
It argued that internship funding should be viewed as investment in national health security and human capital development.
Source:Nile Post
In a post addressed to Health Minister-designate Dr Chris Baryomunsi and issued through the association's X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, PPAU said the debate on medical internship funding should focus on the long-term value generated by the programme rather than its immediate fiscal cost.
“The question should not simply be how much medical internships cost. Instead, policymakers and stakeholders should ask: What would Uganda’s healthcare system look like without adequately trained and supported health professionals?” the association stated.
Medical internship is a mandatory one-year supervised training programme undertaken by graduates of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and other health professions before full professional registration. During this period, interns are deployed in hospitals nationwide where they provide clinical services under supervision.
According to figures cited by PPAU from the Ministry of Health, Uganda currently spends approximately Shs35.7 billion annually on medical interns and Senior House Officers (SHOs), supporting about 2,329 healthcare trainees deployed across public health facilities.
The association noted that each intern receives about Shs1 million per month as an allowance, alongside additional funds covering statutory obligations and administrative costs.
While acknowledging the figure may appear substantial, PPAU argued that it represents a small share of government spending while supporting a workforce that delivers essential healthcare services to millions of Ugandans.
“The internship allowance helps sustain these young professionals during one of the most demanding periods of their careers. Without adequate support, many may face significant financial hardship despite contributing full-time clinical services,” it said.
PPAU warned that reducing support could discourage graduates from joining or remaining in the health sector at a time when Uganda continues to face shortages of skilled workers, especially in rural areas.
It argued that internship funding should be viewed as investment in national health security and human capital development.
Source:Nile Post
