Health activist Kwataine warns Malawi govt against Mutharika’s ‘dictatorial orders’

A renowned health activist Martha Kwataine has warned government against firing health workers suspected to have stolen medical drugs as ordered by President Peter Mutharika, saying the government would lose more money in law suits than thefts of the drugs.

Kwataine was reacting to Mutharika’s order to Secretary to Government George Mkondiwa that he should fire immediately any health worker suspected to have been involved in the theft medical drugs.

She said there are laid down procedures on how such cases should be handled, saying the dictatorial orders would just cost the government more money in law suits.

“We do not need such dictatorial orders. We have a system that takes care of such situations, what we need to do is to ensure that the system is working well from the police to courts,” she said.

She said there was need for police to speed up investigations of such cases and courts should mete out stiffer penalties to deter others from committing the same offence.

Kwataine also said there should be systems within the ministry of Health that can tighten loopholes which enable health workers steal medical drugs.

Last week a young laboratory assistant was found with cartons of La, malaria drug and hospital equipment which was designated for sale in Lilongwe.

The police arrested him following a tip.