Unions unhappy over temporary halt of pharmacist internship placements in KZN

TRADE unions in KwaZulu-Natal have rejected the health department's decision to temporarily halt the placement of pharmacist interns and other health professional interns in 2026, citing budgetary constraints.

- GCWALISILE KHANYILE [e-mail]

In a statement, the department led by MEC Nomagugu Simelane said while it is fully committed to training the next generation of health professionals, the available funding from the provincial fiscus is acutely constrained.

"As a result, we have only been able to secure placements for medical interns and community service personnel at this time. This difficult decision stems from a simple, unavoidable principle: we cannot spend what we do not have. The exclusion of other categories is a matter of fiscal reality, not a measure of their value or importance to our health system," the department stated.

"We want to assure all affected interns that this is not a permanent closure. The department is actively pursuing every possible avenue to source additional financial resources," it said.

The department also assured those affected that the inclusion of pharmacist interns and other health professional interns will be prioritised once the fiscal situation improves.