By MOZTIMES
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – The Mozambican government has explained its decision to suspend subsidies for final-year medical students, citing a lack of funds that has resulted in more than 100 million meticais in unpaid debts.
Government spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa, speaking at a press conference held in the city of Beira on Tuesday, acknowledged that the decision may cause discomfort among students who began their sixth year in 2025, expecting to receive the subsidy. However, he argued that the country’s current economic situation does not allow for the continuation of this expenditure.
“The debt owed to medical interns stands at around 100 million meticais. There are no magic solutions. At this point, we cannot afford to maintain this burden in the State Budget,” said Impissa.
According to the spokesperson, the subsidy was introduced in 2004, when there was only one medical school in the country, to attract more Mozambicans to the medical profession and address a shortage of healthcare professionals. However, over the years, the number of institutions and students has increased significantly, rendering the model financially unsustainable.
Mozambique is currently grappling with a severe financial crisis that limits the government’s ability to meet its obligations. Public sector salaries are being paid late, and debts to suppliers of goods and services continue to mount. Social sectors such as health and education depend heavily on donor funding. The exploration and export of huge natural gas reserves discovered in the northern province of Cabo Delgado is seen as a potential solution to improve public finances, but insecurity has delayed the country’s flagship project, operated by TotalEnergies, which has been suspended for four years.
On Monday, medical students called for the immediate reversal of the decision to scrap the subsidy during clinical internships. In documents submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministries of Health and Education, the students appealed for urgent dialogue with the government and warned that they would pursue legal action if no response were forthcoming. (MT)
