Staff Reporter
KwaZulu-Natal’s health department has said it can only place medical interns and community-service health workers this financial year because of budget constraints, leaving pharmacist interns and other categories without immediate placements.
“The current reality is one of severe financial limitation,” the department said in a statement this weekend, in response to queries from interns.
“As a result, we have only been able to secure placements for medical interns and community service personnel at this time.”
Newly qualified doctors have to complete a two-year internship before they can do compulsory community service, a statutory requirement administered through the National Department of Health’s Internship and Community Service Placement (ICSP) system.
Pharmacists must complete a 12-month internship and then pharmaceutical community service before they can practice without restrictions.
The province has faced continued pressure on its personnel budget. In its December 2025 adjustments budget, the provincial treasury said the health department would receive an additional R1.4 billion to address “urgent pressures”, including the continued employment of community service doctors and interns.
In its statement, the department said it was not questioning the importance of the affected interns to the health system. “We hear your anxiety. We recognise your eagerness to contribute to our healthcare system and the critical role you are trained to play,” it said.
“This difficult decision stems from a simple, unavoidable principle: we cannot spend what we do not have.”
The department said it was seeking additional funding and that pharmacist interns and others would be prioritised if the fiscal situation improved.
“We will provide updates through our official communication channels as the situation evolves,” it said.
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