Financial constraints have restricted the KZN Department of Health from placing pharmacist interns and other health professional interns.

Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said the department has noted, with understanding, the deep concern and numerous enquiries from pharmacist interns and other health professional interns regarding their placements for this financial year.

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“We have heard their anxiety. We recognise their eagerness to contribute to our healthcare system and the critical role they are trained to play. Their distress is not lost on us. The current reality is one of severe financial limitation. While the department is fully committed to training the next generation,” she said.

She added that as a result, her department has been able to secure placements only for medical interns and community service personnel.

“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.

“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,” she said.

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