Malawi to introduce paying fees in hospitals -Minister

February 24, 2015 Nyasa Times Reporter 128 Comments

The Malawi government says it will introduce paying fees in all its public hospitals be used to finance a health fund, Minister of Health Dr Jean Kalirani has disclosed.

Kalirani: User fees
Kalirani: User fees

Cabinet was currently working on the prices for the user fees “to help improve health service delivery.”

Malawi’s government hospitals offer free services to the citizenry. Often times the hospitals have suffered drug and medical equipment shortages – problems that have been blamed on lack of enough funding.

However, the issue of user fees remain contentious with Billy Mayaya, member of Civic and Political Space Platform, on record telling  Nyasa Times  that the move will hurt more Malawians.

“There is need to create a consuming culture so that people have the disposable income to pay for improved service delivery in hospitals. Right now the majority of Malawians are directing their meager incomes towards hand to mouth issues of subsistence. To suddenly expect them to pay for health services with incomes they do not have is a slap in the face,” Mayaya told Nyasa Times.

“The majority of people in Malawi live in rural areas and will not be able to afford this drastic change. There is need to curb corruption in the Ministry of Health where billions of kwachas are fleeced and direct the resources to subsidizing health care service,” he added.

Global development and advocacy charity, Oxfam, recently warned government against heeding calls to introduce user fees in the country’s hospitals, warning that the move will hurt the country’s poor.

In a statement signed by Oxfam country director John Makina, the organisation opposed the move, saying government has capacity to increase funding to the health sector without introducing a burden to the poor.

“Reports that some technocrats, civil society organisations and political leaders are advising government to scale-up paying services in public health facilities are not only sad but an attempt to violate poor people’s right to quality health care,” said Makina.

Government was also urged in a local newspaper editorial to put in place measures that would ensure money made from the user fees from public health institutions indeed goes towards improving delivery of health services “and not towards enriching people who only care about their pockets even where they put a number of lives at risk.”

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128 replies on “Malawi to introduce paying fees in hospitals -Minister”

  1. Pokhapo ndiye mwaonjeza.Anzanu sanafike pamenepo.Anthu akumudzi ndi ovutika kwambiri .Ndalama ayitenga kuti? Chimene mukudziwa inu ndikufuna malipiro ambiri mukapita ku nyumba ya malamulo.Mwayiwala zomwe mumanena pa kampeni nthawi ija.Ngati zakukanikani bwerani poyera ndi boma lanu lobelaro.Kamuzu amkadulitsa makadi ndalamazo ndikumayendetsera chipani.Komanso misonkho ndalama zake zimagwira ntchito ya boma.Ngati zili choncho ndiye ndibwino musiye kutidula misonkho.anthu akuba inu.

  2. Its really sad looking at some of the comments on this forum. It makes one think if Malawians have brains at all.
    I don’t think anyone commenting on this story is from the village or so poor.
    Probably most go to private clinics for treatment.
    Malawians lets think before we type. The Majority of the population are very poor people, these are the poor that visit hospitals.
    Its easy for a Minister to stand some in the midst of a huge crowd and advocate for fees at the hospitals. How many of these even go public hospitals. A lot of people will die, because the majority of Malawians cant afford these fees. This is just a way of government of finding revenue else where. Malawians has lost its humanity as a people.!

  10. u ll solve kuumilira kulamula Mulungu asanalore lero ndizimenezo mukufinya anthu osauka omwe anakuvoterani kuti akupatseni ndalama zoyendetsera boma

  11. Once this is implemented you will see many people dying as it was between the years of 2000 to 2003 when pple were dying of AIDS becoz the ARVs were expensive, some countries introduced this and there were more death than birth which eventually forced them to revert the decsion just read this story http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-its-not-just-dominique-strausskahn-the-imf-itself-should-be-on-trial-2292270.html. Therefore if this govt will continue with this then forget getting back into gvt in 2019, to say the fact govt is there to provide services to its citizens not to kill them, there are alot of poor Malawians in the villages whom they need help, many of them cannot afford to earn k100 a day, then u introduce that this villager shud pay when he get sick, thats a sick idea,

  14. iyayi kutukwanako sikwmbino amwene tiyeni tingothandizana maganizo chifukwa mukatero ndiye kuti mukulakwisa.

  15. Only poor pple who cannot afford private hospitals go to govt hospitals. So the govt wants to milk the poor. The conditions and our health services are poor and pple shudnt be paying. Corruption in Malawi is at melting point. How is this going to work. The money will just end up in brick and mortar then another hospitalcashgate case. Government is serious business.

  17. Kalilani akulankhula nfundo imeneyi akuyiwala kuti anamulemba ntchito akugwilayo ndi anthu osauka omwewo, salare yake akumamulipira ndi amphawi omwewo kupyolera mu misonkho yomwe mukumawabera yosiyasiyana tsiku tsku. Kulephera kufufuza njira yoti boma lizipezela ndalama zolongosolera nkhani za chipatala, the easiest way yomwe azitsogoleliwa akumayiona ndikupanikazabe anthu oasukafe basi. Kusayamika azitsogoleri athu ku Malawi kuno. Kukulembani nchito, kukudyetsani, kumatibelanso ndalama za misonkho yathu ,( ma cashgate). Apa mukulephera kulanda ndalama za ma cashgate, ndiye mukuti tizigulanso kawiri mankhwala after kutibela ndalama za mankhwalazo. Simuli pansana wa njovu , nanga mungawaonenso mame. Boma la nkhanza ngati ili ndisanalionenso. Ngati mukulephera ku kusamala mankhwala mzipatalamo, mukumagulitsa chifukwa chofuna ndalama , whatmore tizikupatsani ndalama zeni zeni, simudzingoba ndalamazo basi.

  18. Kodi chabwino ndi chiti kuti anthu azilipilako pang’ono nkulandira chithandizo choyenera kapena kumwalira chifukwa chakusowa kwa mankhwala ? Ine ndikuona ngati pakhoza kusintha kutakhala kuti anthu akulipirako kangachepe.

      1. Poti ndi dziko losauka kwambili. Koma anzathu pa SouthAfrica pompa amalipila nchifukwa chake amalandila thandizo labwino. Paja ifenso kubelekana ngati makoswe nchifukwa chake sitingatukuke. Kaya ndangodutsa.

  19. Malawians cannot afford this. I suggest that instead of paying at the hospitals let Malawi introduce paying tax to all citzens.

  20. Please think carefully here. Health services are very crucial and needs to be accessed by all citizens poor or rich. I prefer the government provides free services. What the government must do is to reduce MP’s Allowances that are far more than a graduate salary for nothing. We can properly deal with ignorance and diseases by providing free services. What the Government can do is 1, Improve on procurement system which is poorly managed and swindled. Amayambitsa ndi akukulu akulu omweo swindling. Budget ija pa chilungamo its enough money. Koma ma commission ndi amene amadiliza ndalamazi.

  23. I disagree with you Mr ME on what you have said. If people in this country are already failing to access better services from private health institutions, do you think they will manage to pay for this? To me this is one strategy the government wants to reap a poor Malawian. Ok, if they really want to do this the the government should then reduce or rather remove payee’s tax of which is claimed to be going to these services.

  24. SILLY COWS WRITING FROM UK COMPARING THE NHS AND OUR HEALTH SYSTEM. THEY QUALITY OF HEALTH SYSTEM IN UK CAN NOT BE DESCRIBED AS LOW QUALITY.

  25. Zowawa zoyamba masiku wotsiliza! ndinthawi yakuti phala liwile pakati
    timazimvera kumayiko anzathu,pano zatifikila nkhonde

  26. Surely this is the right path. These fees are not out of place they are justified. If we have to save our ailing health system this is the only way i know it can work wonders. It is very true that the majority of the people in our beloved nation live in abject poverty. Having said that let me also say that to avoid dismissing those truly in dire straits to their early graves a better mechanism need to be put in place by Government. It could either be an act of Parliament or subsidy for the selected ones as is the case with free fertilizer. But before this can roll into full gear a positive civic education by MEHN, MEJN, NICE, just to mention a few need to be put in place and it can also help to array the unfounded fears.

    1. I think you have never been in the village and appreciate how poverty is straining people,Malawi is not yet developed to reach that far

  27. Chakwera wooooyeee zakukanikani eti bvomelezani agalu inu wokuba inu zoona tizilipila muzipatala zoona nanga misonkho yathu yikumapita kuti mbava inu.2019 muzanya manyi inu.

  28. A DPP mulibe nzeru mwamva zisilu inu zooona dziko lake lino mkufuna muphe anthu eti ngati malepherela kuyendetsa dziko siyana mbamva inu

  29. 1964 cabinet crisis ooooh!!!NONONONO!!!! 2015 MALAWI CRISIS !!!!!KOMA AMALAWI AMASIKUANO AKE lO! tULO TOO MUCH.

  30. Useless thinking. Bwanji ma issues ngati amenewa muzitifunsako kuti tizikuthandizirani kuganiza. Malawians already suffer massive taxes komanso ma levy amene mumanama kuti akuthandizira zipatala yet sizimaenda choncho. Are you politicians waiting for a grand revolution kuti muyambe kuganiza ngati anthu?

  31. It is only in Malawi here where hospital services are for free. Go to neighbouring countries like Tanzania , Zambia, Mocambique, they all charge fees for their hospitals. No wonder citizens from those countries flock to Malawi in the boarder for free services like schools hospitals etc. It is high time Malawians you rearised that free things are of bad quarity.

    1. Man musanamize anthu, am living in cape town, but there is free hospitals, so what are u try to say men, I think u must be one of those idiots” even in USA their is free hospitals.

  32. While it is good move, taxes should be removed because we are paying heavily to feed agalu- the cashgaters in the government. No free hospital services and not heavy taxes. Remove them or you will face civil disobedience. Be ready to move out of the government by the time your will introduce this exploitative bill in Parliament. We are watching.

  33. Why couldn’t the gvt stop fertilizer, cement and iron sheet subsidy progsamme and take all the funds from this programme to ministry of health. The stratagies which DPP is taking will kill our colleagues in the villages even in towns. if i were minister i would not attempt such kind of stratage. The only problem with our leaders they do not make a difference bwn their status and our status, they take all pple as if they are alike in diginity.

  35. Why couldn’t the gvt stop fertilizer, cement and iron sheet subsidy progsamme and take all the funds from this programme to ministry of health. The stratagies which DPP is taking will our colleagues in the villages even in towns. if i were minister i would not attempt such kind of stratage. The only problem with our leaders they do not make a difference bwn their status and our status, they take all pple as if they are alike in diginity.

  37. Neo-liberal policies at its best…..this is what they mean when th say government should reduce spending…

  38. This is a good move. As for the UK it is having the same problems with the health services because it is also free. Free health services mean that more people can access the same health services but very low quality services. The government cannot sorely responsible for the whole health sector and if people are paying, it means this money will improve the heaalth sector in terms building speciality hospitals of illnesses that Malawi couldnt have built otherwise, the same money will enable the employment of more qualified doctors which in turn will decrease the doctor patient ratio, this money will enable health research etc. As we can see the intoduction of fees will be much benefitial for the short term and the long term . It is not like people are not going to suffer, they will but it is for the greater good.

  39. I really don’t understand and I can’t believe it.Malawi been ranked number one poorest in the world mwayamba kukama mkaka ng’ombe zowonda chochi?Guys have you ever stayed in the rural areas and experience the country life?zowona instead of fighting corruption in your health institutions where druggate is daily issue when you go at the health centre for malaria you might be lucky to get quinine while sp is in vendors and you can ask yourself how these guys get all types of antibiotic.

  40. A DPP tayesani ndi game yabwino koma yikhozaso kusanduka downfall yanu mu 2019 .A malawi akanyasidwa mapeto ake ndi ngo……….

  41. Opportunity cost better stop fertilizer subsidy,malata subsidy and cement subsidy and continue giving us free mankhwala pliz dont kill us

  42. Sizoona no fees in hospital that against humanity if the poor of the poorest can not afford do u mean they shud die? This refuses their right 2 live govnt shud get altenative means of financing min of health not fees as 2 u who tinazolowera zaulere si onse amadalira zipatrala za boma and sionse amadwala ndipo mnthu sakonzekera kudwala ndi cholnga chokalandira mankhwala aulere think b4 u voice out remember pple even the poorer r Paying vat what they gonna benefit 4m the govnt free medication in Public hosp is fine if u tok fertilser si onse benefit amasankhana if u tok mijigo repent its govnt service delivery each and every govnt in the world always deliver servises 2 its citizens kambani zina zachipatala zokhazi ndakana oR malawi shud introduce grant money 2 its citizens muziganiza mukafuna kuika ndemanga tayendani muone mmaiko ena why our govnt is on zero aid anthu odzikundikira anaba ndalama za anthu anthu akumidzi sanapindulepo olo tambala boma lipeze njira yopezera ndalama osati kuyamba kulipiritsa nzipatala za boma ndakana ine aliyense amalipira nsonkho

  43. Uku ndikulakwa ngati zilichoncho kodi boma lizachosa ma benefits amene limapeleka ku anthu andalewa iwo akulandila zaulere pomwe akulandila kukaniza omwe sangwira ntchito ngati boma lalephera kuyendesa ndibwino kutulapansi udindo

  44. The idea could better be implemented on the working and business class, otherwise the people in villages will suffer greatly. Its better to introduce fees in primary school, after all in almost all primary schools, learners pay some fees in some way or the other.

  45. This is good, how do you expect a poor man who fails to buy malarial drug having 8 children??? Mavuto oziputa dala. Too much kuswana ngati nkhumba in Malawi. People have to learn to be responsible. Too much zaulere in Malawi;school, hospital, borehole water, fertiliser etc. So we encourage them to multiply. We cant put a law that bars one from having many children but you can put economic barriers.

  46. Mukunamizana. Ndalama Zimenezo Adzingogawana Achina Jim, Jack Ndi Mary Osati Mukuganizazo. Nonstarter! Amalawi Another Silent Disaster. Kapena Ndi Njira Yochepetsa Population. Moti Simukwona Kuti The Poor Majority Will Not Afford. Ambiri Afa Chifukwa Cholephera Kulipira. Ndithu!!!!. Ambuye Tipulumutseni Mmanja Mwa Demon!

  47. To be honest this like many other ideas is a good idea however implementation always flaws ideas such as these. Yes there is fear of hurting the poor but its time the citizens started contributing a little something for too long we have just been giving free handouts to people this has made people lazy. You can’t expect a zero aid budget to keep giving free services we need to help one another here but please the fees must be reasonable and used for the right things not to buy a fortuner for some big man in some office somewhere that’s all I can hope for slowly we will learn to self sustain.

  49. This is like Swallowing before chewing. The idea is good but it appears there is more that needs to be done in order for the system to be viable. They should have introduced national ID first then start this user fees. As it is, the poor will suffer more. User fee system function better when you have a system to differentiate the rich and the poor. How do you expect a poor man with no income to get malaria treatment which will cost money he does not have, which will be costed the same for the rich guy who has money for the treatment? The system should be designed to let those with income to contribute by user fees and make the poor access care too. The only we do that efficiently is to introduce national IDs. Otherwise it is going to be like some government restructuring ventures that have been introduced in other government cycles but fail to achieve the goals due to lack of proper planning. First things first, National IDs first and then introduce user fees.

    1. Koma Inu, how do you expect a poor man who fails to buy malarial drug having 8 children??? Mavuto oziputa dala. Too much kuswana ngati nkhumba in Malawi. People have to learn to be responsible. Too much zaulere in Malawi;school, hospital, borehole water, fertiliser etc. So we encourage them to multiply. We cant put a law that bars one from having many children but you can put economic barriers.

  50. Avery bad idea advanced by very bad pipo.they themselves accss free health service under govt sponsorship regardless of the fact that the r stealing from the same govt.

  52. People like john makina are very foolish. Who told you that people cant afford to pay when we know that they are busy paying witchdoctors. Why are you silly people trying to bring down this country. Fuck Oxfarm.

  54. The move is very good because it will make real patients visit the hospital not those with trivial consultations. But please watch out how pharmacies in Malawi are run unchecked or an monitored please watch out. Keep track of events one by one so that the money of the poor is really safe or else people will be rich on poor peoples’ contributions the way it is now with our pharmacies. Watch out government!!!!

  55. There is no justification to start charging poor people to pay hospital fees when top government officials, ministers , politicians and presidents go abroad to get their treatment using government money. If the Medical Services in Malawi have to improve stop sending officials abroad for treatment. Once they start suffering like everyone else they will start thinking of improving our medical services. I would even go further to say that those who have money and go abroad for their treatment from their own pockets or from Insurance they should pay a percentage of the cost of their treatment to the Ministry so that we can improve our medical services.

  56. Would suggest a fee should be a moderate one but also a provision should be there not to deny assistance to those that do not have the money at a time of need of medical assistance.

  57. Welcome development. There was a second attempt by MCP Government to introduce Hospital user fees in 1992; but did not materialize because of political pressure for multiparty democracy.

  59. Paying for hospital bills was long overdue. However, Boma lizikhala serious. How on earth can a country not have ID cards?
    In fact, there is no country which offers free health services the whole world.

    Amalawi tinazolowera kulandira too much.

    – Feteleza waulere
    – Zipatala zaulele
    – University yaulere
    – Relief items aulere and yet the same people refuse to go upland
    – Kulera mukukani mukuti muchulukane ngati mchenga. Umuona munth thalauza alibe kima ana 10.
    – Ntchito kuononga katundu wa boma i.e. zikwangwani zapamseu, mapolo a magetsi, etc.

    Dziko ili silizatheka basi!!!

  60. Its a good idea. very very good idea ! We are Malawians and we belong to Malawi as a country. We have to support our country in its services. This is for our own betterment. In other countries for example Mozambique despite its good economical stand, often times the Hospital only does the diagnosis but the patient gets the medicine from Pharmacies thus Mozambique has a lot of Pharmacies. I dont see the reason why people should complain as am sure the amount to be paid will not be handful. The Govt knows that many Malawians are pure.

    The only request I would like to make is that the Govt should try to guard against corruption once the new system is implemented.

  61. This is the saddest news. More sad than being named the poorest country in the world. The rich steal 1/3 of govt revenue and go to private hospitals. Then in their sick ‘wisdom’ design a policy to make the poor pay at the hospital.

  62. I have read all the comments so far. I am amazed of how we love free things when it comes to government. perennial complainers yet expect first class services in the free hospitals. The villagers you complain about prefer to deliver their babies at a traditional birth attendant and pay. They go to singnanga for treatment and pay. Zikavuta then they remember a hospital. kokafela and blame hospitals for killing their relative. Can we please wake up and be more constructive?

    Its time to pay for services. Am sure the intended charges will still be highly subsidised so we can look at it as a contribution. Maybe now we can plan our 10 babies better. Use our dambos better to farm more often not just wait for FISP every year.

    You call someone poor long enough, they will believe it. They will also believe they need your handout all the time. Lets change the mindset and improve. Projects like OVOP, FINCA have proven that it is possible. NGOs that push for handouts are the exact people we do not need in this country. We need empowerment of the villages not this stupidity of telling them they can not do it!

    It will hurt the first few years, but that is what it will take. Let us improve the healthcare, introduce proper health insurance.

  65. Had times for Malawians. Mealing tibiwonenge. Mukatenge wakusambila, wakusambila! Nzeru Zack professor zimenezo! Munya muwona!

  67. which is better.. to reduce fertilizer subsidy or introduce hospital fees
    ..I feel the former is wiser option

  68. Malawi @ 51…..pipo still poor…dont be cheated coz “them” will ga outside wen sick . Damnnnn

  69. That’s nonsense do you consider those who can’t? Remember not all are bread winners. Malawi is already poor country and it’s leaders are busy filling their pocket forgetting what they promised during campaign.
    It’s the duty of the government to supply all the needs to its citizens plz don’t fool us.

  71. Wins asandiuze za MBC . These people were in the forefront castigating JB yet she gave them freedom they needed. This is the DPP you wanted my brothers and Sisters.

  73. Hospital fee could be nice but how will it be administered. We may end up with more problems than we facing now. Expect life expectancy to drop even further down because we shall have a sick nation, a sick nation because people won’t be affording to square the hospital fee.

  74. You pple be serious! Do you know that health is the basic need. We pay tax so that the money should be used for social amenities. Borrow a leaf from the late Dr Banda. This habit of commercialising everything is dangerous.

    1. Inu a Nyayo musamangoti chili chonse Dr Banda muzaputsa nazo. Go back and read your history. Dr Banda is the one who introduced hospital fees but all the ministers especially from the north resisted. Instead he abandoned it but killed some of those ministers. Again in 1992 he wanted to introduce it but winds of multiparty democracy stopped him from doing so. He only managed to introduce school fees which Muluzi abolished. So which leaf should we borrow from Dr Banda? That about killing your political opponent?? Do not expose your ignorance here.

  75. This is killing Malawians, while them in Parliament are receiving a lot of money from the same poor Malawians, including the president who just increase his salary without considering Malawians who are now ranked poorest of all Countries while their leader are very reach. this is a disgrace to our country and the warm Heart of Africa now is Burning, as we say Malawi, now we are inside Malawi amoto (Flames of Fire). think of us poor people we are failing to buy even food so how are we going to pay in the hospitals, you want all poor people to die so that you continue enjoying your self. think again, there are many ways of funding the Ministry of Healthy like; Reducing the salary of the State President, his Vice, all Minister and Parliamentarians not taking from the poor people, be human being Parliamentarian not like beasts, mind you chisankhoso chiliko ku tsogoloku

  76. The best is to charge a fee based on the income of the individual, that way everyone has equal opportunity. Eg 1000-5000 to pay say K50 those getting 50, 000-100, 000 to pay K5, 000 etcetra. A consultation fee also should be charged upon arrival.

  78. This is straight and simple, WHY and WHAT for are we supposed to pay TAX if public services have to require a fee too? Then tomorrow will hear that we have to pay for the roads to use them ,so that the fee should help in maintaining the roads. This is simply a sighn of failure. SHUPITI

  80. i support the move it will good service delivery after people choose to go to private hospitals to follow good services nthawi ya zaulere inatha. And this will kuti mankhwala azipezeka nzipatala, government expenditure will be reduced

  83. No problem with payment but gov should consider poor people when making the fees. My wary iz on amphawi omwe ukudwala matenda okhalitsa kut are they going to manage this. Its true that dzikoli layamba kutikanika…….

  84. No problem with payment but think of poor people like I myself. Odwala matenda a #edz amakhala nthawi yaitali in hospital, ndiye kaya bill yake izifikaka bwanji. Anyway dziko likutikanika ili.

  86. The arguments of people for not supporting the hospital fees is that it will hurt rural people; I for one think that its good to introduce the fees so that people in rural areas will now be cautious when voting; sinanga they vote because of where the candidate is coming from; they will start voting with much scrutiny.

  87. This will be an advantage to MCP. Mark my words. People in the villages will hate this president to death because of the pinch that they will feel. Abale koma a pulizidentiwa ma advisors azandale ali nawo? Ndale zake zapa Malawizi opposition mwayipopa basi. Thank me I have warned you. If I were you I would have introduced this, in my second term. My opinion is that the bill is good but will contribute to the DPP downfall.

  88. Aaaaaaaah amalawi muzikhala serious …kod ntchito ya ndalama za boma ndi chan???? Mukufuna kutibela et fxxxxxxck yuh

  90. Cry my beloved country! The issue here is not whether paying is good or bad. Before introducing such a “draconian” policy, govt needs to consider issues of:
    1. Taxation – since we’ve been paying for health services through taxes, will govt reduce the rate of income tax on my meagre salary? Otherwise it will be like paying twice for the same thing

    2. Corruption – this is the most painful issue! Govt just wants to find more sources of revenue where they can be “cashgating” – otherwise, with the so-many loopholes in Malawi’s financial systems, we should be ready for more cashgates besides the K21 billion of JB/Lutepo/Kasambara/Mphwiyo/Manondo, etc; and the K92 billion of Bingu Chinderechakufikapo Mutharika and his cohorts!

    This govt stinks!!!!!!!

  91. Civil society organisations have contributed to the country’s poverty in the name of standing for the poor. Zooms tsiku lalero after 51 years of independence mankhwala azikhalabe aulere mzipatala? Iwe John Makina have you forgotten the influx of Mozambican s at Mulanje district hospital looking for free services?

  94. It is a bad idea. Malawians are suffering. Many people will not manage to pay hospital fees because most are poor people. Now government is denying Malawians the right to public health. Many people will die. What will happen when there is an outbreak say cholera for example. Mps please don’t pass this stupid bill. Its deadly.

  96. Good move bcoz most of our public clinics are also being misused by foreigners more especially from Mozambique by Ncheu and Dzedza, they must pay back something plz. My tax is not for Tanzanias other foreign nationals who does not even pay tax here. Go a head Minister, great move.

  97. IN MALAWI THERE HAS NEVER BEEN FREE THINGS.WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PAYING FOR THESE SERVICES THROUGH CUTTHROAT OR OBCENE PAYE ON MONTHLY BASIS.THE PROBLEM IN MALAWI HAS BEEN POOR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ISSUES ESPECIALY AS A RESULT OF GREED AND WANTON CORRUPTION IN GOVT.WHAT IS THE USE THEN OF OUR PAYE.A PERSON WITH GROSS PAY OF K150,000; FOR INSTANCE PAYS OVER K40,0 00 AS PAYE .AND MALAWIANS R NOT SICKLY PPLE.THIS PERSON RARELY GETS SICK AND IN A DECADE HE HAS NOT VISITED HOSPITAL.THIS VERY PERSON LIVES IN AN A FILTHY AREA COZ CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT COLLECT GABBAGE.THE SAME PERSON CROSSES THE BLANTYRE MARKET BRIDGE ON FOOT AND WALKS ON ROTTEN PLANKS ON DE SIDE WALK SORRY STATE.QUESTION IS WERE DOES OUR PAYE GO . NO TO HOSPITAL FEES ,JUST IMPROVE ON ACCOUNTABILITY.AGAIN NO TO SUCH COZ WE ALREADY PAYIN

  98. It is very sad that some people comment even without understanding the aim behind the desire to introduce fee in public hospitals. If I understood what the Minister of Health Dr. Kalirani said, I quote: ” Often times the hospitals have suffered drug shortages and Medical Equipment”. Much as the idea of paying a Fee would be ok, but the reason cited is NOT true.

    Many times, I feel very very sad when I hear these trained MD join politics they deliberately avoid to say the truth. Anthu omwewo a ku Zipatala, Medical Stores ndi Ma Pharmcies ndiwo akumaba Mankhwara ndi zi pangizo za muzipatala.

    Do NOT think Malawians do not know this. Many times these people have failed to manage Central Medical Stores. Even when they turned it to a Trust. Because the people appointed to manage the trust ndi omwewo have who have failed in the past because of their political ties. Tangonenani zowona kuti Zero Aid Budget ikubvuta to balance ndiye tizikokela pang’ono pang’ono. NOT Otherwise.

    Stop Politics when it affects Lives of the people of Malawi.

  99. All countries that surround us have paying public medical health service. Go for it government. This will encourage people to produce more so that they have enough to serve for hospital bills. But find a way of supporting the poorest. Muli pa ntchitonu it means more cash transfers to the relatives back home. Its our tradition anyway.

  100. That is a big day dream, which will never come true. Combat corruption and therfore you will have cash to run. Whosoever feels can afford azivaya ku Jon koma zaife nzaulere mpaka kale. Peter mmesa unkati you can rule nyasaland, if yes STOP your childish anzako have bn there till kuchokapo osabera amphawi. Law and economics does not go together, just learn how to balance books basi2

  102. There will be mechanisms to guide how the poor will contribute to the fees/payment.
    Above all it is not the poor who run away from payment but MPsMinisters and other politicians like free services.In Malawi everbody pays tax.

  103. If there can be a proper system to avoid cash gate in the hospitals, this is the right direction to make the hospitals self sustaining in terms of medical care. Of course the patients are already paying for the services because right now they only get prescription from and are told to buy the medicine from the private pharmacies where prices are so high. If there can be a small fee charged to enable hospitals acquire basic medicine, this can be the right move. It is better to pay a little something to the public hospital and make sure patients are getting the right treatment/medication except situations that require referrals but not to buy drugs from a pharmacy which is more costly than paying the fee.

  105. MBC Employees are crying blood and gnawing their teeth due to the ill treatment being administered by Sumbuleta, Mungomo & Gloria Banda. Where on earth can you have a parastatal being run by a couple. This is happening at MBC with the puppet board chair’s approval. Please Save the Souls of MBC Personel

  108. Sure anthu odikilira amakachapa ma blanket Ku zipatala bill ya madzi mbwee asafuna azipita kwa asing’anga anthu amakalipira bwanji nanga.good idea

  110. Think Twice you people who you are able to keep some money in your bank account, in my understanding this is unfair to those who are in remote areas who can not afford to access medical services through paying.

    So i guess its better you find another ways of funding health sector or else i can conlude that the government has completly failled, and if they cannot change this decision let the government step down.

    imeneyi ndi njira imodzi yoluzira voti yanga ndi amalawi ena osauka in 2019.

  111. The move is good but the following needs to be considered:
    1. Those people who pay income tax should be exempted from the hospital fee because they will be paying twice.
    2. There should be more security at the hospital because as of now most drugs are just stolen and Malawians are going to suffer the hospital fee because of these thieves.

    1. Stop buying antibiotics pa msika from a vendor who doesn’t even know how to spell antibiotic later on know what it is for

  112. This is quiet un heard of. We have gone through different government adminstrations. Kamuzu the Ngwazi allowed free hospital services. So did Bakili Muluzi. Then folloewd Bingu and Amayi JB maintained it. Why then is APM trying to introduce hospital fees? The life of poor Malawians is now at stake. The tax rate for all workers is already hurting workers.

    Find other means of solving these financial hicaps not this one of killing innocent citizens. imagine if an ordinary village fails to pay there will no treatment for that person. The result is death. Think twice do not just take Malawians for granted.

  113. Which is better to pay and have drugs in the hospital or not to pay and buy drugs from pharmacies? Most of the hospitals in border districts of Malawi are patronized by Mozambican nationals. In these days palibe chaulere basi.

  114. The issue of shortage of drugs and equipment it has nothing to do with finances but lack of proper monitoring and care. We keep losing drugs sure to pilferage and we care less to maintain equipments so this is really a human factor problem. From medical stores to public hospitals pharmacies there is lack of proper system to protect the drugs. Even if people pay but the problem is not solved. Invest in technology and security of drugs. Visit private hospitals and borrow a leaf how they protect their drugs. Dont penalize villagers for medicalgate in hospitals.

    1. now that the people will be paying drugs, they hospitals will have to reconcile money raised versus drugs issued . whoever steals drugs will have to account for the moneys…. so in q way, this is going to promote accountability

  116. amakobili azizapita ku chipatala. enafe tiyambanso zachikuda zathu. kuchipatala basi tasiya. tiziberekera kwa azamba amene satukwanana pobereka komanso amati zili ndi iwe kuwapatsa chiongo kapena ayi panthawi yako yimene ungazapeze. ku chipatala mizere yitali yitali, madokotala akenso otukwanana, komanso kukhala pa mzere nthawi yayitali chonchocho ulipirenso. ay zikomo khalani tingolimbikira kudzala mitengo kuti tizipeza mtera

  117. The problem is that 70 of districts in Malawi are border districts. Because we do not have national identity, government spends a considerable proportion of public resources providing service to Mozambicans, Tanzanians, Zambians etc. It is almost impossible for Malawian to receive health services at any facility in Mozambique. Amakubweza mwachipongwe.

    When shall we have national IDs? It will help to reduce cost of providing public service.

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