Health
Why pharmacists rejected new intern training framework
In a notice issued on June 1, 2026, the PSU Council said it was not involved in drafting the policy, which seeks to reshape the training and deployment of medical and pharmacy interns within Uganda’s health system.
Why pharmacists rejected new intern training framework
By: John Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
________________
The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has rejected the newly introduced National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025, calling for its immediate suspension over what it describes as fundamental gaps in consultation, curriculum alignment and intern welfare protections.
In a notice issued on June 1, 2026, the PSU Council said it was not involved in drafting the policy, which seeks to reshape the training and deployment of medical and pharmacy interns within Uganda’s health system.
“Consequently, PSU does not support the policy in its current form,” said Dr Lutoti Stephen, the PSU secretary.
“There has not been any curriculum review to accommodate students undertaking internship before graduation for purposes of membership into the Society.”
Policy shift at centre of dispute
At the heart of the controversy is a proposal to integrate the mandatory internship year into the Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) programme before graduation, effectively restructuring the traditional training pathway for pharmacists.
The PSU warns that the change, if implemented without prior curriculum reform, risks undermining training standards, mentorship quality and patient safety.
The society also strongly opposes any attempt to extend the duration of pharmacy training under the pretext of a pre-graduation internship.
Curriculum review
Policy shift at centre of dispute
At the heart of the controversy is a proposal to integrate the mandatory internship year into the Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) programme before graduation, effectively restructuring the traditional training pathway for pharmacists.
The PSU warns that the change, if implemented without prior curriculum reform, risks undermining training standards, mentorship quality and patient safety.
The society also strongly opposes any attempt to extend the duration of pharmacy training under the pretext of a pre-graduation internship.
Curriculum review
The pharmacists’ body is demanding a suspension of the policy's implementation until relevant academic and regulatory institutions review and harmonise university curricula nationwide.
It further insists that the current training structure should remain in force for ongoing students, citing the principle of “legitimate expectation”.
Under this arrangement, final-year students would continue with scheduled examinations and proceed to internship under the existing system, with any changes applying only to future admissions.
The PSU reiterated that registration to practise pharmacy in Uganda remains contingent upon completion of an accredited BPharm degree, a supervised internship, and successful performance in both pre- and post-internship qualifying examinations.
Concerns over admissions, training standards
Beyond the internship restructuring, the PSU used its statement to highlight broader weaknesses in health training systems, particularly university admission practices.
The council argued that over-enrolment is straining training capacity and compromising professional standards.
“Universities are admitting students beyond the capacity they can handle as authorised at the time of program accreditation,” the statement noted, urging stricter national minimum entry requirements.
The society said strengthening entry standards would ensure that only academically and ethically prepared candidates enter the profession.
Risk of brain drain
The PSU also raised concerns about intern welfare, warning against policy changes that could affect remuneration for medical interns.
It noted that interns often endure demanding schedules, including extended shifts in emergency units, labour wards and operating theatres.
The council warned that reducing or weakening pay would worsen workforce morale and accelerate the migration of health professionals seeking better conditions abroad.
According to the society, many interns already carry significant financial burdens due to tuition costs in private institutions, making fair compensation essential for retention.
The PSU has urged final-year pharmacy students to remain focused on their examinations, assuring them that internship placements will be handled through existing structures.
It also pledged continued engagement with government and education authorities to resolve the policy impasse and ensure a “harmonised and safe transition” in health training reforms.
About the policy
The National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025 is a major reform jointly introduced by the Ministries of Health and Education to improve the quality, regulation and deployment of Uganda’s health workforce.
The policy restructures medical training by integrating internship into undergraduate education, meaning students will only receive their degrees after successfully completing a mandatory internship.
It also introduces a national pre-internship examination, tighter admission standards, standardised training requirements, and greater use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and simulation-based learning.
Government says the reforms were prompted by growing concerns about the quality of some health graduates, many of whom reportedly failed basic clinical assessments despite holding university degrees.
The Ministry of Health also cites the rapid expansion of medical training institutions, which has increased the number of interns from about 200 annually to between 1,500 and 2,000, creating severe internship backlogs and straining hospital training capacity.
The policy is also intended to address Uganda’s chronic shortage of health workers by aligning training with national workforce needs.
However, while government views the policy as essential for safeguarding healthcare standards, opponents argue that it risks creating new challenges for trainees and the broader health sector.
Critics contend that withholding degrees until internship completion will increase financial burdens on students and families, create uncertainty over intern welfare and allowances, and potentially accelerate the migration of health professionals seeking opportunities abroad.
It further insists that the current training structure should remain in force for ongoing students, citing the principle of “legitimate expectation”.
Under this arrangement, final-year students would continue with scheduled examinations and proceed to internship under the existing system, with any changes applying only to future admissions.
The PSU reiterated that registration to practise pharmacy in Uganda remains contingent upon completion of an accredited BPharm degree, a supervised internship, and successful performance in both pre- and post-internship qualifying examinations.
Concerns over admissions, training standards
Beyond the internship restructuring, the PSU used its statement to highlight broader weaknesses in health training systems, particularly university admission practices.
The council argued that over-enrolment is straining training capacity and compromising professional standards.
“Universities are admitting students beyond the capacity they can handle as authorised at the time of program accreditation,” the statement noted, urging stricter national minimum entry requirements.
The society said strengthening entry standards would ensure that only academically and ethically prepared candidates enter the profession.
Risk of brain drain
The PSU also raised concerns about intern welfare, warning against policy changes that could affect remuneration for medical interns.
It noted that interns often endure demanding schedules, including extended shifts in emergency units, labour wards and operating theatres.
The council warned that reducing or weakening pay would worsen workforce morale and accelerate the migration of health professionals seeking better conditions abroad.
According to the society, many interns already carry significant financial burdens due to tuition costs in private institutions, making fair compensation essential for retention.
The PSU has urged final-year pharmacy students to remain focused on their examinations, assuring them that internship placements will be handled through existing structures.
It also pledged continued engagement with government and education authorities to resolve the policy impasse and ensure a “harmonised and safe transition” in health training reforms.
About the policy
The National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025 is a major reform jointly introduced by the Ministries of Health and Education to improve the quality, regulation and deployment of Uganda’s health workforce.
The policy restructures medical training by integrating internship into undergraduate education, meaning students will only receive their degrees after successfully completing a mandatory internship.
It also introduces a national pre-internship examination, tighter admission standards, standardised training requirements, and greater use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and simulation-based learning.
Government says the reforms were prompted by growing concerns about the quality of some health graduates, many of whom reportedly failed basic clinical assessments despite holding university degrees.
The Ministry of Health also cites the rapid expansion of medical training institutions, which has increased the number of interns from about 200 annually to between 1,500 and 2,000, creating severe internship backlogs and straining hospital training capacity.
The policy is also intended to address Uganda’s chronic shortage of health workers by aligning training with national workforce needs.
However, while government views the policy as essential for safeguarding healthcare standards, opponents argue that it risks creating new challenges for trainees and the broader health sector.
Critics contend that withholding degrees until internship completion will increase financial burdens on students and families, create uncertainty over intern welfare and allowances, and potentially accelerate the migration of health professionals seeking opportunities abroad.