Museveni proposes new funding for medical interns

Speaking at State House, Entebbe, on August 24, 2024, Museveni warned that relying on government funding is unsustainable, as financial constraints continue to delay intern placements across the country.

President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that Uganda’s government lacks the funds to support medical internships, prompting him to propose that the financial burden be shifted to the sponsors who supported students during their education.

Speaking at State House, Entebbe, on August 24, 2024, Museveni warned that relying on government funding is unsustainable, as financial constraints continue to delay intern placements across the country.

“The government does not have enough money to fund medical internships,” Museveni stated.

He acknowledged the financial strain on the Ministry of Health, which is balancing the costs of medical training with other priorities like infrastructure and security.

“Some people say the government must pay, but that is risky because the government would pay if it had the money. However, it doesn’t have enough due to other obligations like roads, security, and more,” he added.

Museveni’s remarks respond to growing frustration among medical interns who have faced delays due to the government’s inability to release funds on time.

He stressed that relying solely on government funding might not be sustainable, suggesting that the future of Uganda’s young doctors should not hinge on uncertain government finances.

The President proposed that individuals or entities who sponsored medical students during their education should continue to support them during their internships.

“It’s not wise to tie the future of our young doctors to government funding, which may be delayed or unavailable,” Museveni remarked, advocating for a more stable and predictable funding source through the students' existing sponsors.

This proposal underscores a growing concern in the medical community, as many interns find themselves stranded due to financial bottlenecks. Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Commissioner for Health Services at the Ministry of Health, recently reported that the Uganda Medical Internship Committee had completed the placement process for the upcoming year. However, he noted that the Ministry is struggling with limited resources for effective deployment and supervision of the interns.

According to Dr Mwebesa, placements for medical interns, covering graduates from 2023 and earlier, are scheduled from August 5, 2024, to July 31, 2025.

Despite these arrangements, the Ministry’s financial constraints have impeded the smooth transition from academic training to practical experience.

The President’s comments were made during a lecture for 210 post-medical interns who had just completed a 10-day patriotism and ideological training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.

This training aimed to equip the interns with leadership and ideological insights to complement their medical expertise.

Museveni’s proposal to shift financial responsibility to those who previously sponsored the students marks a significant policy shift.

It highlights the broader issue of balancing government budgets with critical needs like healthcare and education.

While this approach may provide a temporary solution to the funding crisis, it raises questions about the long-term sustainability and its impact on the accessibility and quality of medical training in Uganda.

As the situation unfolds, the medical community and policymakers must collaborate closely to ensure that Uganda’s healthcare system can support its growing number of medical professionals without compromising the quality of care and training.