Mutharika woos investors to Malawi’s health sector

President Peter Mutharika has  urged investors across the globe to come and invest in Malawi’s health sectors, saying enhanced private investment in the health sector is the best option for developing countries to improve quality, efficiency, outreach and service delivery.

Mutharika meeting investors at the Business Forum in Malta
Mutharika meeting investors at the Business Forum in Malta
Mutharika and delegates at the business forum
Mutharika and delegates at the business forum
President Mutharika at the Business Forum in Malta
President Mutharika at the Business Forum in Malta

He made the call during his keynote address at a session during the Commonwealth Business Forum at the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta.

The session titled “Business of Health: Improving Access and Outcomes” took place on Wednesday at the Hilton Hotel, Valleta.

The President noted that increased participation of many stakeholders in the Health sector is key in servicing the whole Commonwealth community.

“Most countries are now opening up the Health Sector to private investments. There are now such instruments and frameworks as Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), outsourcing of services in public health facilities, total commercialisation of health services to be fully run by private sector entities; and other forms of contractual agreements,” said President Mutharika.

He added “Malawi has gone to the extent of passing a law for the creation of Public-Private Partnerships. We now have the legal framework for the private sector to invest and participate in the delivery of public services in a bid to improve access and health outcomes.”

The Malawi leader went further to explain how the business of Health is crucial to the populace.

“The business of Health is all about making sure that all people, regardless of their predisposition and situations, are able to live a good quality life, free of diseases and ill health. Much of Commonwealth is in great need. From the region where I come from, Sub Saharan Africa, we are faced with a double burden of communicable diseases, particularly Malaria, HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis.

“Then come to think of our growing problem of non-communicable diseases. Think of cancer, hypertension, diabetes and child and maternal complications. These are also leading causes of ill health and fatalities. And these are challenges rising far beyond the borders of my world,” said Mutharika.

Areas in which there are investment opportunities in the Health sector -according to President Mutharika- include Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangements for running of hospitals of all types and sizes, Contract arrangements in supply and maintenance of medical equipment and running medical insurance schemes.

Others areas include Building and operating laboratories, Managing referral systems, Running of outsourced services and many other services.

Though his keynote address was for the whole Commonwealth community, the President emphasized on Sub Saharan Africa – where Malawi is located- as the best destination for these Public-Private Partnerships in addressing health problems.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that as much as 37 million people worldwide are known to be living with the HIV/Aids virus with the majority of them living in Sub-Saharan African countries. Malaria affects over 200 million people annually.

Furthermore, maternal deaths and under five child mortalities are also the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. One in every four children die before reaching their fifth birthday.

These statistics indicate that Sub-Saharan African countries carry more burden than the rest of Commonwealth countries. The session was attended by heads of government, heads of public and private institutions, business leaders and captains of industry from the Commonwealth bloc.

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Martin
Martin
8 years ago

Why would an investor come to Malawi , when the whole government is corrupt , look what happened to MML ,the AG interfered and induced and fraudulent back dated letter, and further more this AG Kasambara manipulated the legal system , and that’s exactly what the current AG did as well , this is corrupt state Malawi we make Nigerians look stupid when it comes to corruption , the investors have no protecting by the judiciary , the government controls the courts , I feel sorry for an investor who think that he can come to Malawi and all will… Read more »

Biz
Biz
8 years ago

These investors have Ambassadors in Malawi who gives them first hand information. They know about security issues and electricity issues. These investors would want production. How is that going to be possible with the current situation. The other day we were told electricity issues will be sorted out in 3years time. The economy is nit stable. These investors are not insane. They wouldn’t invest in unstable Country. Things on the ground needs to be sorted out before wooing them. We are a laughingstock. The Country has lost direction, things are bad.

Sapitwa
Sapitwa
8 years ago

We should just hope that the discovery of rare earth minerals and other minerals once mined will change everything for the better. There will be no worry for forex as these commodities are exported and traded in US$. Once in full ram

Baba -Mdogo
Baba -Mdogo
8 years ago

Investors! Don’t forget to bring your own security , water, electricity, just to mention a few before coming to our mother Malawi .

Baba -Mdogo
Baba -Mdogo
8 years ago

Investors! Don’t forget to bring your own security , water, electricity, just to mention a few before coming to our mother Malawi apart

Bwande
Bwande
8 years ago

What assurance are you giving these investors that they will have the much needed electricity in their businesses? This is just a waste of time and resources. You know well that no sane investor can show up in a country with only 3 hours of electricity in a day. Unless he wants to invest in electricity himself because that’s a potential business interest. The failure to increase electricity generation capacity shows that shows that Malawi is NOT up and ready for any economic transformation. Anything good for the economy and social well being requires reliable availability of energy. I am… Read more »

mphatso
mphatso
8 years ago

For investors to come you need a stable currency and low inflation which can only be acheived if we fix the kwacha, IMF has to be convinced by the Government that free floating has and is not working for Malawi. Under the current system we can forget about investors nonody will invest to lose money

The Analyst
The Analyst
8 years ago

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Ever wondered how disturbing a small leak in the roof of a house can be, especially at night when sleep calls? Malawi is a house that’s leaking almost on every corner of her roof and no any sane and honest investor would want to be housed hence lose sleep under that roof. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Investors are not idiots, this we shall say again. Although Malawi’s interest rates are high hence attractive to investors on return, the high inflation stands ready to savagely bite the investors’ butt. Unstable currency is there to surprise the investor. As such the return from higher… Read more »

MLOMWE
MLOMWE
8 years ago

He has failed in health sector and all he knows is to invite investors to invest in Malawi.Foolish,lazy,unproductive president.He always dream of making money not helping Malawians while we are crying of drug shortages,chortage of staff and chortage of ambulances plus fuels in our health centres across the country.Pita what you know is to invite investors,what kind of a person is you?do you have kind of humanity?Have you ever admitted in our public hospitals?I cry for my fellow Malawians is this what we were expecting for?God help us in this exile

Green Grass
Green Grass
8 years ago

Looks like APM was the only Head of State at the forum if the picture is anything to go by. One may wish to ask as to why other Presidents were not there. I think they know that Commonwealth meetings are increasingly becoming irrelevant in the modern global settings and countries obtain little or no benefits from them. And of all investments surely we want establishment of private hospitals and yet we are drawing cold feet over the introduction of user fees in public hospitals? Any potential investor would look at scenarios like these and conclude that investment in health… Read more »

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