Pharmacy graduates in KwaZulu-Natal urge Health Department to expedite internship placements

The decision by KwaZulu-Natal's health department to temporarily halt the placement of pharmacist interns and other health professional interns in 2026, due to budgetary constraints, has been roundly rejected by graduates and trade unions.

Many pharmacy graduates from around the province have appealed to the Health Department to prioritise the release of internship posts, especially for the 2025 cohort, so that they are able to transition into their professional careers.

Their concerns stemmed from the department's MEC, Nomagugu Simelane, who stated that while they were fully committed to training the next generation of health professionals, the available funding from the provincial fiscus was 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.

Londeka Nkosi, a pharmacy graduate from Durban University of Technology, expressed her concerns about the department's hampered internship programme.

“We are pleading with the department to try and push for pharmacy internship posts to be released and to allow the 2025 batch to begin their internships by March,” Nkosi stated.

“This timely intervention will stave off future issues, including the clustering of pharmacy graduates competing for the already limited posts.”

Nkosi's plea comes amid rising concerns within the department regarding the placement of pharmacist interns and other healthcare professional interns for the current financial year. The health department reiterated in a statement that they were bogged down by financial constraints.

“The current reality is one of severe financial limitation. While we are fully committed to training the next generation of health professionals, our available funding from the provincial fiscus is acutely constrained,” stated the department.

Nkosi said that swift action was crucial, as delays could have far-reaching effects on the future of aspiring pharmacists. “If this is treated as an emergency and resolved promptly, we will achieve a smooth transition of interns into the workplace,” she urged.

However, late last year, the department received additional funding of R1.39 billion to the Provincial Equitable Share (PES) for Health.

This funding was meant to address urgent pressures in the department, including the continued employment of community service doctors and interns, offsetting budget pressures in personnel, and funding essential goods and services.

The department’s spokesperson Nathi Oliphant did not provide responses to the Daily News' range of questions; instead, he referred the publication to the department’s statement on the matter.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) both stated that they will engage the department on their stance regarding the placement of pharmacist interns and other health professional interns.

Ayanda Zulu, Secretary General of Nehawu in KZN, said: “We will be engaging with the department on behalf of the interns who have been put on hold, just as we have done for the doctors and nurses, among others.”

Zulu said that Nehawu is of the view that the battle must be directed at the National Treasury, which is responsible for funding public healthcare.

“There is very little that the Department of Health can do because the National Treasury imposes austerity measures. That is why this year, in February, when the Minister of Finance delivers his Budget, we will be protesting outside, demanding that they fund all the vacant posts, because they are creating a crisis for the healthcare system,” Zulu stated.

Nkosinathi Thwala, the PSA's Provincial Organiser, said they held the same stance as Nehawu. “The decision directly harms young people who invested time and resources in their education with the expectation of structured workplace training. South Africa faces a growing youth unemployment crisis.

"Cutting internships worsens this crisis and closes the door on qualified graduates who depend on these programmes to gain experience and professional registration,” Thwala said.

DAILY NEWS