The Ministry of Health has announced plans to dispatch over 3,500 medical interns to various healthcare facilities during the upcoming 2024/2025 financial year. Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai revealed that the deployment will commence on July 1, in accordance with recommendations put forth by regulatory bodies.

Kimtai emphasized the significance of internship in the healthcare sector, describing it as a vital phase for graduates to enhance their professional skills and knowledge within a clinical environment. He stated, “Internship in the Health Sector in Kenya is recognized as compulsory experiential learning where graduates build upon previously acquired knowledge and experiences by working within the professional work setting.”

The diverse cohort of interns includes 849 Medical Officer Interns, 72 Dentist Officer Interns, 289 Pharmacist Interns, 1,134 Nursing Officers, 145 Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine, and 1,270 Diploma Clinical Medicine candidates. Notably, 4,129 interns were already placed in approved public and private hospital centers in the preceding fiscal year, setting the stage for the incoming 2024/2025 batch.

Responding to the Ministry’s directive, Davji Atellah, Secretary General of KMPDU, emphasized the urgency of timely intern postings as per the agreed timeline. He expressed concern over any deviations from the established agreements, highlighting the need to uphold the integrity of the internship process.