By Kabuye Ronald
The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has advised all intern pharmacists to withhold reporting to their assigned internship centres until the Ministry of Health provides a written commitment on facilitation for medical interns.
The directive comes as the Ministry of Health requires all medical interns to report to their assigned facilities by August 14, 2026, warning that those who fail to report risk forfeiting their placements.
In a statement signed by PSU Secretary Dr. Lutoti Stephen, the professional body said many interns, particularly privately sponsored graduates, are unable to report because the government has not provided written assurances on facilitation for transport to internship centres, accommodation and upkeep.
PSU said 344 intern pharmacists were forwarded to the Ministry of Health for deployment after sitting and passing the Society’s pre-internship examinations. The organisation stressed that not all pharmacy graduates are automatically forwarded for internship, adding that it maintains a national registration database through which the number of eligible interns can be verified.
The Society also cited the National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025 (NET4H), arguing that the welfare of health workers in training should be adequately provided for during internship.
According to PSU, interns are post-qualification health service providers undergoing mandatory training before independent registration, rather than students in the conventional sense.
PSU Secretary Dr. Lutoti Stephen
The pharmacists’ body further raised concerns about the staffing levels at public health facilities where interns have been posted. It said General Hospitals currently have only 38 pharmacists out of an approved structure of 110, representing 34.5 percent staffing, while Health Centre IVs have five pharmacists against an approved 222 positions.
Regional Referral Hospitals, according to PSU, have 31 pharmacists against 126 approved positions, or 24.6 percent. The Society also said National Referral Hospitals continue to operate under an old staffing structure providing for between one and seven pharmacists.
PSU warned that deploying intern pharmacists to facilities with critical shortages of qualified pharmacists, without adequate facilitation and supervision, could place excessive pressure on the trainees and undermine the quality of their internship.
The Society also expressed concern that interns were not given an opportunity to choose their posting stations, saying this has created additional financial and logistical challenges for some of them.
PSU said the situation could also affect interns’ preparation for the Post-Internship/Pre-Registration Examinations, which they must pass before being registered to practise pharmacy independently.
“No intern pharmacist should be expected to supervise themselves at internship centres,” the Society said, urging interns to immediately report any constraints they face.
The professional body said it has formally engaged the Ministry of Health to rescind the reporting deadline, provide reasonable facilitation in line with the NET4H Policy and urgently recruit and deploy qualified pharmacists to public health facilities to strengthen mentorship and supervision.
PSU also said it is working with the Uganda Medical Association, Uganda Dental Association and other professional bodies to seek an urgent and lasting solution to the wider challenges facing medical interns.
The Society welcomed an online engagement held with the Minister of Health, saying the minister had committed to following up the matter in Cabinet.
PSU called for respectful engagement between medical professionals and government as negotiations continue, while urging the Ministry of Health to treat the welfare of interns as an urgent matter.
The Society said it will provide further updates as discussions with government progress.
Meanwhile, PSU encouraged intern pharmacists to use the period to revise for their post-internship examinations, seek mentorship from registered pharmacists and avoid risky behaviour while the dispute over facilitation is resolved.
