HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government says budget woes have forced it to stop funding internship programs for doctoral psychology students who work in the childrens' and regular hospital systems.

A spokesman for the Health Department says due to the province's financial challenges it can no longer afford the $223,000 from its mental health and addictions budget that pays a portion of the internships.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health Centre say they will take over providing the salary top-ups for this fiscal year and will hold talks with the province in hopes of resuming the programs in future years.

Everton McLean, a spokesman for the Nova Scotia Health Authority, said the program is important for recruitment of the psychologists, and the funds to keep the program will have to be shifted out of other budgets.

He said the program this year funds six positions, and a spokesman for the IWK said the funding is for three positions.

The stipend was over and above the regular pay for the internship.

Chris d'Entremont, the health critic for the Progressive Conservatives, says ending the stipend is a poor choice for spending restraint because it will ultimately hurt some of the province's most vulnerable citizens.