KAMPALA, Uganda
Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has announced plans to ask Cabinet to reconsider the government's medical internship policy following concerns over the proposed changes to funding and support for interns.
Speaking during Tuesday's parliamentary sitting, Baryomunsi said he was preparing a Cabinet paper to reopen discussions on the policy, which has attracted debate among lawmakers, medical professionals, and students.
The minister told MPs that although he recognises the concerns surrounding the policy, he cannot overturn a decision made by Cabinet without seeking approval from the same body.
"I am drafting a Cabinet paper to have this policy decision reviewed," Baryomunsi said.
The policy under debate provides that medical graduates sponsored by the government would continue receiving facilitation during their one-year internship, while privately sponsored graduates would be expected to cover their own costs.
The government introduced the proposal amid a growing number of medical graduates entering internship programmes, saying the cost of facilitating all interns had become difficult to sustain within the available budget.
Officials have also maintained that the internship is a professional training requirement that allows graduates to gain practical experience before obtaining full registration, rather than a conventional employment arrangement.
The position has, however, faced opposition from sections of the medical community, who argue that interns are an important part of the workforce in public hospitals. They say interns perform responsibilities similar to those of other health workers and often support service delivery in facilities facing staff shortages.
Some Members of Parliament have also questioned whether differentiating interns based on their source of university sponsorship could create unfair conditions for graduates performing the same duties.
The debate comes shortly after Baryomunsi visited Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital at night, where he witnessed challenges affecting the facility, including congestion and pressure on health workers.
Medical internship remains a compulsory stage for doctors and other health professionals before they can obtain full practising licences.
The outcome of the Cabinet review will determine whether the current policy is maintained or adjusted to address concerns raised by medical graduates and other healthcare stakeholders.
