Commencement of medical internship during the COVID-19 pandemic: An honour with increased responsibility

To the Editor: Medical internship continues to be a significant challenge for newly qualified doctors in our country.[1] Issues pertaining to placement allocations and uncertainty, a step up in workload and responsibility, and the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare system are particular causes for concern. Initially, the 2-year internship programme promised newly qualified doctors in South Africa (SA) an opportunity to gain experience so that they would be able to practise independently, competently and safely.[2] Subsequent to this promise, in June 2020 the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) acknowledged internship programme training concerns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in a document which highlights that the Council itself is aware of the compromised learning opportunities as pandemic protocols have reduced elective procedures and in-person consultations with patients.[3]