Health 4 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)

Health Professionals Demand Halt to New Training Policy Over Consultation Gaps and Intern Concerns

Doctors and pharmacists are urging the government to pause the implementation of the National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025, citing insufficient stakeholder consultation and contentious provisions regarding intern training and welfare. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/doctors-pharmacists-challenge-implementation-of-health-training-reforms-5485668

Several prominent health professional associations in Uganda are calling for an immediate suspension of the recently developed National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025. Critics argue that the policy, designed to address workforce shortages and reform health training, was created without adequate input from key stakeholders, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and medical interns.

A central point of contention is the policy’s classification of interns as students. Representatives from the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) and the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) assert that interns, having already earned degrees, are not students and therefore should not be subjected to new requirements or treated as such. They emphasize the need for interns to receive proper facilitation and remuneration, highlighting the financial burdens many face regarding accommodation, transport, and feeding during their mandatory practical training.

Professionals also expressed dismay over what they perceive as a contradiction within the policy. While Objective Five aims to improve intern welfare, critics point to the inconsistent approach regarding financial support. Concerns were raised about the suspension of previously provided monthly allowances to medical interns and the withholding of funds without clear justification. This has led to reduced morale among interns, with some mentioning unresolved legal challenges seeking the restoration of these allowances.

The associations are advocating for a withdrawal of the policy to allow for broader consultations. They believe that current provisions do not reflect the practical realities faced by interns and could impose further financial and logistical hurdles, potentially impacting the quality of healthcare delivery. The government has not yet issued a public response to these concerns.