Kenya’s healthcare system depends on well-trained medical professionals.
Yet the experience of medical interns reveals significant challenges that threaten their readiness and, by extension, public health.
A study, reported elsewhere in the newspaper, exposes the difficult reality of many interns who find themselves navigating an overwhelmed, understaffed and under-resourced system, often without adequate supervision.
This is a call to action for Kenya’s Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders to urgently reform and streamline the internship process.
Most medical interns are required to undergo a one-year supervised internship before registration.
But without proper guidance, many are left to manage critical tasks on their own, often in resource-limited settings.
The report shows interns resorting to search engines for procedural guidance, making errors due to lack of supervision and witnessing unethical practices by senior staff.
These conditions not only undermine the interns' training but also pose significant risks to patient safety.
Furthermore, the lack of resources, including essential medical equipment and diagnostic tools, forces interns to rely on clinical intuition rather than evidence-based medicine.
This disconnect between formal training and practical application is alarming, and must end.
Improving the internship experience through structured mentorship, resource allocation, and proper supervision is essential. By addressing these gaps, the country can ensure that interns transition into competent professionals.
Quote of the Day: “Do unto others 20% better than you would expect them to do unto you, to correct for subjective error.”
Linus Pauling
The American chemist, engineer and peace activist (1954 Nobel prize for Chemistry, 1962 Nobel Peace Prize) died on August 19, 1994