Hundreds of nursing students have been left in shock after the Ministry of Health revoked internship placements for 348 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) students, citing policy requirements that had not been met.
In a statement released Monday, the Ministry said the affected students had not officially graduated and therefore did not qualify for placement under current internship guidelines.
The cancellation, officials said, was made in line with both the Public Service Commission Internship Policy (2016) and the Ministry’s own Internship Policy for Healthcare Professionals (2020).
“Internship slots are for those who have finished studying, graduated, and received clearance from their regulatory body,” partially read the statement.
The decision has left students disappointed and confused, with many having already received letters of placement and preparing to report for their training in public hospitals.
The internship slots for BScN students are limited just 2,000 a year so the placement is highly competitive and tightly controlled, the Ministry said.
Officials explained the cancellations as part of the move to ensure transparency, compliance, and fairness in the system.
The Ministry, however, maintained that it remains committed to ensuring the entry of graduates in healthcare into the workforce.
Once students have officially graduated and received regulatory clearance, they would again be eligible for internship.
Meanwhile, the affected students would have to wait for official graduation before they could be reintegrated into the system.
