If you’re passionate about saving lives, promoting wellness, or researching ways to improve public health, then a healthcare or medical internship could be the perfect way to start your journey. South Africa offers various internship and experiential learning opportunities across hospitals, clinics, NGOs, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies.
In this post, we explore the top healthcare and medical internships in South Africa you should consider applying for in 2025—and how to make your application stand out.
⚕️ What Are Medical and Healthcare Internships?
These internships allow students or recent graduates in healthcare-related fields to gain hands-on experience in:
- Clinical settings (hospitals and clinics)
- Public health campaigns
- Medical laboratories and research
- Nursing, pharmacy, and radiology
- Mental health and wellness support
- Community health outreach
Most internships require you to be studying or qualified in healthcare-related disciplines like Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, or Clinical Psychology.
🏥 Top Healthcare & Medical Internship Opportunities in South Africa (2025)
1. National Department of Health Internships
Location: Nationwide
Fields: Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Admin, HR in Health, Finance in Health Sector
The Department of Health offers internships for graduates in health and non-clinical fields to support the running of public health systems.
2. Netcare Internship & Training Programmes
Location: Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal
Fields: Nursing, Pharmacy, Admin, IT, Radiography
Netcare is one of South Africa’s top private healthcare providers and regularly offers student training placements and graduate internships.
3. Life Healthcare Internship Programme
Location: Nationwide
Ideal For: Nursing students, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Clinical Support Staff
Life Healthcare supports healthcare graduates through workplace exposure and on-the-job mentorship.
4. South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Internships
Location: Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban
Fields: Medical Research, Biostatistics, Public Health, Clinical Trials
SAMRC offers structured internships and research placements for students interested in academic medicine or health science innovation.
5. World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Regional Internships
Location: Remote or Brazzaville (Central Office)
Fields: Public Health, Global Health Policy, Epidemiology
Though competitive, WHO internships expose students to large-scale international health programmes.
6. Right to Care Internship Programme
Location: Johannesburg and national branches
Fields: HIV/AIDS Care, Public Health, Community Health, Medical Data
Right to Care is an NGO offering internship programmes to students interested in healthcare, social work, public health, and IT in health.
7. PATH South Africa Internships
Location: Pretoria
Fields: Health Systems Strengthening, Vaccine Innovation, Maternal & Child Health
PATH is a global nonprofit working to improve public health through innovation. Interns join real health projects impacting local communities.
📝 How to Stand Out for Healthcare & Medical Internships
Getting into the healthcare industry is competitive, but here are practical steps to stand out:
✅ 1. Tailor Your CV to Healthcare Roles
Highlight:
- Clinical experience or lab skills
- Health-related volunteer work
- Patient communication skills
- Research and data analysis (for public health roles)
👉 Get your free Internship CV Template
✅ 2. Add Certifications or Short Courses
Boost your application with relevant short courses:
- Basic First Aid
- Health and Safety
- Infection Control
- Public Health Basics (Coursera, WHO, or Alison)
✅ 3. Get Involved in Community Outreach
Many health organisations look for interns who’ve volunteered in health awareness, vaccination drives, or mental wellness programmes. It shows initiative and social commitment.
✅ 4. Show Genuine Passion in Your Cover Letter
Mention:
- Why you’re pursuing a healthcare career
- What health issues you care about (e.g. maternal health, HIV, mental health)
- What skills you hope to gain
✅ 5. Keep an Eye on University & Hospital Career Pages
Public hospitals like Chris Hani Baragwanath, Groote Schuur, and Steve Biko Academic Hospital occasionally offer in-service training or shadowing opportunities. Ask your faculty for leads!
🔍 Where to Find Medical Internships in South Africa?
- GoIntern.co.za – Find verified internship listings
- Indeed South Africa – Use keywords like “Health Internship”, “Medical Internship”, “Nursing Internship”
- Department of Health website
- NGO sites like MSF, Right to Care, Soul City Institute, CHAI, and Red Cross
❤️ Final Thoughts
Whether you’re helping patients, conducting research, or working in public health, healthcare internships give you the real-world experience you need to make a difference. The healthcare sector is not only vital but deeply rewarding—now’s the time to take the first step toward your medical career.
👉 Start your journey today on GoIntern.co.za — your go-to platform for healthcare and medical internships in South Africa.
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