Malawi introduces hospital ‘bypass’ fees: Pegged at K1,500
Malawi government has introduced user fees for walk in patients in major public hospitals who seek treatment without being referred by either nearest health facilities which is pegged at K1500 per patient.
Minister of Health Dr Jean Kalirani disclosed recently that government will introduce paying fees in all its public hospitals be used to finance a health fund to address underfunding within the health sector.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Henry Chimbali said Wednesday that the fees would be levied on patients bypassing government health centres within their vicinity opting to access medical services at major referral hospitals.
“Government has introduced these paying services in the major referral hospitals to address underfunding within the health sector,” he added
Through the “bypass”, he said, the government wished to allocate 40 percent of the collected revenue from the charges towards hospital staff incentives and the remaining would be earmarked for maintenance.
Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) director Jonathan Ngoma said the fee called ‘bypass’ is a token designed to decongest the hospital and encouraging sufferers to seek treatment at the health centres.
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 with Global Hope Mobilisation (Glohomo) executive director Caleb Thole criticised the introduction of consultation charges as a violation of access to free and quality healthcare services.
“Research has shown that user fees or any form of payment in a government hospitals is no an effective form of health financing as it is only capable of mobilising five percent to 10 percent of recurrent budgets,
“In the long run it also reduces efficiency of demand for health services through decreasing demand for appropriate health care among poorer and vulnerable groups and the beginning of bypass fee is part
of it, there is just no difference, the poor is paying anway,” Thole said .
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.
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.”
Currently, Ministry of Health has proposed introduction of health risk taxes on alcohol and cigarretes as one way of revenue generation measures to complement resources it gets from its partners and the national budget.
In the K780 billion revised 2014/2015 national buget, Parliament allocated K69 billion to the Ministry of Health. In contrast, the ministry’s total health expenditure was projected at K274 billion for the year.
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This move is long, long overdue.
Malawi is the only country in this part of the world that offers free health service, This has resulted on additional pressure on our health service by patients from neighbouring countries
Comment. Chikanakhala chanzeru kuti azilipilisa ku xool za primary kuposana ndi kuzipatala
This is not a good move, to other people that’s a lot of money & people will be denied their constitutional rights to proper treatment when they’re sick. I was shocked that to get a death certificate for my departed Mum was K30, 000 at QECH in 2011. Why all that money??????
This is a total lie. Who told you that? Or you were swindled. Death certificate is much less than 10 000 kwacha as of today. Osamanamiza anthu man muzalangidwa.
how sensible is this? where do Malawians’ tax goes? is it not their right to choose where they can rightly be treated?
Yolipilayo ndiyogwira koma fée yake itakhala yochepa monga k200 kapena k500 kungoti amalawi tinazolowela kulandila za ulele
Paying is not a problem stop issueing manual receipts or else money is a goner
This is not a pro poor strategy. I am so amazed how World Health Organization managed to keep this dull woman in their fold. The best is to establish a National Health Insurance Scheme where people will be contributing for their health care on annula basis as it is being done with MASM. For example the Health care card can cost K200 for say silver card holders.Then say K10,000/per for Gold card holders and K50,000 for platinum card holders.
Of course you can include antenatal, maternity care and child health for the poor free of charge. The poor include everyone who is not employed or not doing a form form business. You can also link with the Ministry of labour that whoever employees someone as a maid or house servant, the salary must factor in a medical scheme cover.
Hire us and we will provide free services to help gorvernment establish a working system. Otherwise the system you are introducing will not benefit the poor as health care workers will be prioritizing the people who can pay K1,500. Chilima should help you within the public services reform
did you catch peter on that metal show?
In the first place this started long time ago like 2009 at KCH skin department. It seems good but on the other hand no. In most cases these moneys don’t go to Govt they end up in people’s pockets. Its either an attendant or someone else. They issue GRs without a stamp etc. If they rectify this I stand to support it. Uku ndiye kuwapatsa danga kuti adye ndithu.
It is true Malawi is not poor but Malawians are. They are poor in the head. How do you think Malawi can develop when its citizens are just staying phwii waiting for free maize, free education, free fertilizers, free medicine in hospitals, free houses etc? Those of you who say that Malawians are poor to afford hospital fees are senseless individuals who are against development. Did you know that fees at traditional healers (sing’ingas) are exorbitant yet they are the favorites to the same poor villagers? Malawians in rural areas are known for big and lavish weddings and funerals, does the govt pay for such things? Salt and chigayo are never free yet every household afford them. Secondary school education is not free yet it is dominated by the same poor rural folks. Don’t exargerate things. Cyclists in Mozambique pay tax for their bicycles and do not complain. It’s time to move forward.
You don’t know what you r saying. U think everyone z rich? U think Atcheya was stupid to introduce free services. Not everyone z rich, think about of your relatives in the village before posting baseless comments.
Good idea
first ensure their are adequate drugs in health centres and health workers. There will be no bypass. This system was introduced at Mzuzu Central Hospital since its opening kunali zii zii koma it has now affected ochewa phokoso lake
kodi mukufuna muwaphelenji a malawi?
izi ndiye zopusa,ngati mwatopa osangotula pansi udindowo bwanji?ufiti eti.Mukaona kuti 1,500 si kanthu mukuona ngati kwa aliyense ndichoncho.i thnk zisiru zomwe zinakuvotelani zikupanga regret ndi uchisiru wanuwu.
Payepanu agalu inu malawi is very poor and don’t campare with other countries. Most majority in malaiwi are living in poor so its not fair to do so and I want to tell malawi gvt to give us ids passiport
Boma likufuna kuchepetsa chiwerengero cha anthu mMalawi muno. Ndiye njira yapafupi imene ayipeza ndi kuyamba kulipiritsa kuchipatala kuti amene alibe ndalamawo adzifa kuti anthu tichepe.
PELEKANI NDALAMA MOLIMBIKA, NDIPO IFE A DPP TIDZITAFUNA ZIMENEZI.
Zifikenso ku ma health center nd ma district hospital. Ma drug collectors amachuluka kwabasi, makamaka azimayi, akabwela ku chigayo kaya kudzabaitsa kalela kaya ku msika, amafuna asabwelele ulele, koma atengeko mankhwala popita
The idea is good because most people in villages have nothing to offer to the government. During MCP government village people were clearing roads. paying personal tax, building rural schools and health facilities on their own. But now when ever they do communal work they want to be paid by MASAF. So why should they receive free medicine?
This is a recipe for corrupt practices. Give people IDs first.
this is long overdue. Malawians, lets not just criticize chilichonse. we are poor yet we want free health services,,,,yet pa Zambia pompa even Zimbabwe or TZ, anthu amalipira. Kusayenda nkumene kumakupangitsani UMBULI.
I hate the song we are poor we are poor we are poor, eee osauka a kumudzi; when shall we malawians ever rise up and believe in ourselves. How can we migrate from poverty when we enjoy dancing the ‘we are poor song’? This is pathetic. K1500 mpaka tiimbilepo nyimbo ya we are poor. When shall we ever have the Bingu wa Mutharika/ Henry Kachaje way of thinking and collectively become a transformed nation. I CRY FOR MY MALAWI
Total nonsense! What are our taxes for?
Malawi is the only country in SADC with free access to medicine. This will make health personnel answerable as to medicine stock levels. Hospital income should correspond to drugs sold. I think this will minimise pilferage of drugs.
But if you can reduce to MK600 as minimum, then apply this to universal treatments so that these guys are accountable to stocks. You should also improve on Information Systems (MIS).
Thats ridiculous Mr Caleb Thole; free healthservices for a poor country like Malawi means poor quality health services. Its time Malawians have to start taking responsibility. The responsibility of the hospital is not to provide medicine, there are pharmacies for that after all as a third world country we can take advantage of the medicines that are produced cheaply just for 3rd world countries. I dont think Malawians cant afford to pay 3 dollars for health! Remember It is not what the government can do for you, but what you can do for the government.
I dont know what our greedy leaders are thinking over poor malawians. May be you just want to be alone. Remember we will all be judged by God who need not bribe and sees no worthy but de works one has done.
Everybody azilipira basi osati munthu mmodzi ku central even kaya ku Govt clinic azilipira anzathu zikuyenda bwino zinthu ku Mozambique ku Zambia kamba ka system yolipilayi.
I despair with this government, “a tax on illness”. Can someone tell me what are the opening times of the Health centres. So if you go to your Health clinic in the morning and been told to go and buy panadol because the health centre has nothing else to offer; at 5pm your condition has got worse what do you do then? How about if you fall ill on Sunday? I take it you should go to church and pray until Monday morning in the hope the Goog lord will help. I assume all politicians will visit the Health centres first and not use their influence to be seen in the hospitasl. The idea is not well thought out. Recover the CASHGATE MONEY and fund the hospitals.
k1,500 for what ? misonkho timalipirayi ntchito yake ndi chani? think of munthu wakumudzi kuti apeze k500 imakhala ntchito
Anthu a kumudzi amakwanitsa bwanji kulipira kwa Sing’anga? Big up ministry of health.
Nkhani ndiyabwino, kungoti chayambi always painful
K1500 is too much for a poor mlwn
Commentkuba Basi
mmmmmm am so sorry about malawi . timaganiza kuti palowa mbewa kodi palowa Njoka? tikapanga masewela ………. ………
it already started some wks ago and i paid k1500.00. Am failing to seek medical attention 4rm my nearby health centre due to illtreatment i received the otherday.
Apa bola ,osangoti chilichonse ulere, feteleza, mbeu,chipatala ,kukwatila apa ndiye yatsala ndi sukulu munthu azidziwa udindo wake
That’s good for better service delivery
Its a bad idea. Malawians we still poor people.
Enanu mukamapanga comment et mudziwona simunganene kut anyasa alembe mu chiyankhulo chamakolo awo kusonyeza kut inu nde odziwa kwambili kuposa ena eti ? …….. Tisamatelo ayi chonde apapa anyasa amapeleka ufulu kwa muthu aliyese kut atha kupanga comment nde sibwino kut wina udzipangitsa ena kut maganizo awo asamayike powopa kusekedwa athu ngat inu odziwa kwambili izizi zandikhudza kwambili kodi kungopeleka maganizo kumakanika eti koma mutsutse eti ?
Put K1 levy on Fuel to cater for Health Services. Period.
It’s not fair, to pay for our rights. mthalika aka pume ta tops nawe.
I hope the minister and her ministry have considered availability of competent staff, equipment and drugs in the health centers. Otherwise ’twill be senseless to introduce the penalties and lose a lifefor either negligence or delays at the health center only to go to the referral hospital to be told that you’re late mwatibweletsa munthu wakufa kale.
It will be the same pay or no pay poor Malawians will suufer more than ever. A Chakwera muli kuti mukulekelela anthu aboma kuchita zimenezi. Opposition should do something, but kufooka ha ananu dziko lija lalowa zake.
Introducing the fee is the least of evils. I also like the idea that by paying the fee, patients will not be asked for referral from health centres. However, I wish to appeal to the health authorities to ensure that as much as possible health services are provided 24/7. My own experience and am sure that of many patients has been that health services during weekends and weekdays after working hours at govt hospitals are extremely difficult to access. And yet anyone can become ill anytime of day or night and on any day of the week.
I think anthu ambiri simukumvetsetsa word yoti ‘bypass’……it is for people who leave their nearest health centres and go straight to central hospitals. ….akumudzi ambiri are referred. …there fore will not pay the fee. …and I don’t think munthu angachoke kwa kabudula yekha…mostly they are referred and they won’t pay the fee. …but for someone who stays in chilinde kawale is the nearest, so they have to there first then be referred. That’s what bypass fee means. ….
anthu amene mukunena za anthu osauka ndinunso amene mukuchita bwino pothangatira anthu osauka omwewo. Apapa Boma lapanga bwino and actually this is long overdue. Introduce that mu ma district hodpitals as well.
Ndalamayo Yachuluka Anthu Ena Sangakwanitse Ngati Zitati Zikhale Choncho Komanso Zizidzangolowa Mmatumba Mwawanthu
will not manage.timwalira.wanthu wafwenge chomene.
The protocal is clear for referal hospitals. The amount of K1500.00 is a panishment not fees to pay for treatment. People will pay for infringing rules not good treatment. plz come up with a good statement
Good but woe to poor people because one falls sick unpreparedly
Koma kwa singanga ndiye kupeleka K5000 ya chipondamthengo msangamsanga
Boma likufuna kuzuza anthu ake basi,bypass yachaniso munthu wadwalira pa njira pafupi ndi chipatala cha kamuzu central upite kwanu ku dowa? Aminister asowa chokamba.
Izi ndizopanda nzeru ,Malawi ndi dziko losauka anthu ambiri amalandira ndalama yosakwana K500 pa tsiku komanso mmadera ambiri mulibe ma Health Centre ngati alipo mulibe mankhwala,ogwira ntchito komanso zipangizo zokwanira
zavutatu apa, ingonenani kuti mwayamba kulipitsa mzipatala za boma, moti ndalamazo simuzigulanso mankhwala, muzingoba basi
Thanks govt that’s a good start…tinasolowera zopusa, next muikweze ifike at least 2,500!
Atakolore chaka chino mdi dolo.
Chimanga folo sichitikwanira.
This is probably the only sensible policy the DPP govt has made. This has been long overdue. Free food (through input subsidy), free education, free healthcare, free (rural) housing, free malata, free cement, free, free, free. But only a handful pay taxes. How sustainable is this mess?
Many people will die because of this nonsense. They are people out there can’t afford to buy cheapest bathing soap and when get sick where are they going to get K1500?think twice.
The move is in bad test.Tiziferanga m’makomomu.Why couldn’t you abolish free primary education which has led to lack of discipline in our xools.You prepare to go to school,but you don’t prepare to get sick and go to the hospital.
muganize bwino pamenepa amphawi tiganizireni we live on less than a dollar a day how can we mage that fee think of pples lives
so unfair there isn’t enough health facilities in lural health centres the ministry shud think again
I think this is a good idea to reduce the congestion at the central hospitals. Those who can not afford then don’t go to a central hospital without a referral letter rather go to your nearest health center and follow the normal health care delivery system.
Paja mumati boma la anthu ophunzira,tiye naloni. Musalire lero. Anthu amakuuzani koma makani.
Nkhaniyi yoti Tidzilipilayi ikumveka koma pali funso loti kuBomako mudzidzifunsa nokha ngati ili:Mankhwala ambirimbiri omwe ali mzipatala zaboma ku Malawiko 98% ndi mankhwala ogula ndi ndalama yongopatsidwa mwaulele kuchokela Maiko akunja.Nthawi zina mankhwalawo amatumizidwa kuchokela ku maiko akunja mwaulele.Tsono zinthu zaulele mukufuna mudzitilipilitsanso.Ngati simukudziwa Thandizolo limabwela kwa ife tonse osati inu nokha Ayi.Kutidyela masuku pamutu Ayi.Boma lanji lankhani chotere
Nde mtengo wa ma ARV ndiomweo?
I totaly agree to the move as this will reduce pressure on the fiscal policy esp on fianance
policy makers, assist the masses which are poor. why not invoving multinational companies to assist?
anyasa zikuoneka ngati english yoti bypass yavuta. alembereni mchilankhulo cha makolo awo.Malawian avoid calling urself the poor of the poorest. Stop culture of free things.Bravo government if u are producing children like a factory, usova
pamenepa simunaganize bwino , muganizire munthu wa kumudzi amene ndalama amachita kupempha, kodi akadwala mphamvu zopemphera akazitenga kuti?ngakhale ifeyo a mtauni tikulandira k450 pa tsiku , yakuchipatala k1500 tikaitenga kuti.tiganizireni ife a mphawi a amphawi.
it is true that people shoulld pay at major hospital,but there are many problems at health centre 1there are not enough health equipments to help doctors to cary their work well.There are shortage of drugs as aresult people are forced to buy mediciine from their private hospital which are belonged to them.2.They come very lateat health centre ,because they become busy with their private hospital.doctors needs enough funds cary well health centre.
iwe nzaboza ukunenazo, and so ku health center sikukala general practioner koma kumakala medical assistant or nthawi zina clinician. komaso zimez zili bo coz anthu azipanga folo proper procedure of admision to a referal hospital
its a good idea but think of poor Malawian who cant afford K 1500 why not K500 ?
Even k500 gogo wa ku mudzi akayitenga kuti? Cry my beloved country. Ku ma healthy center komwe amangopereka asprin muwiri? Shame to our government. This is one way of reducing the population kuti anthu ambiri azifa. Nanga si ma arv achepetsa imfa. Anthu tanyanya kuberekana. Nde ndi zakudya zomwe tikudyazi ndi ma twins or triplicates nde tilowela nawo kuti ana kadwala. Malungo, dibetis, canser, hiv, menanjaitis, tb, zili thooo nde zonsezi being refered to big hospitals sure. Pano nde titawakumbuke a kamuzu, muluzi, a bingu. Tikadalira sitinati.
While it sounds ok this will stress the poor town dwellers and only enrich someone somewhere.And mind you people, human life is at stake here.Atleast increased tax on beer,cigarettes and other luxuries is sensible
A bad decision: its better to reintroduce school fees in all government schools and divert the funds to health sector because health issues are always emergency. Poor people will manage thats.
MWACHITA BWINO TIZILIPIRA.MA PATIENT AKU MOZAMBIQUE AMALANDIRA NAWO MISONKHO YATHU YAULELE,POMWE IFE SINGADWALE KUNO,KUKALANDIRA MANKHWALA KWAO ULELE.
DATS GREAT! PIPO LIVIN IN URBAN AREAS SHUD PAY 4 HEALTH SERVICES AND SCHOOL FEES 2 REDUCE CONGESTION! SAFUNA ABWERERE KU MUDZI! VIVA MALAWI!
While I understand the need for government to raise funds for to supplement the budget for buying drugs, I think K1500 is just too much for a common man. Good people, there is poverty here in Malawi. Think of a common man who even struggles to find k150 for bonya. This will be a great disadvantage to the majority of Malawians who live below the poverty line. May be if it was K500, that would make sense. Those people proposing this can afford to go to Mwaiwathu, Adventist Hospital, Garden City etc and cant feel the effect this will cause. Secondly, with this syndrome of kusolola, we cant be certain that the funds will be in safe hands, otherwise we will witness hospgate
The ant- Christ yafikapo……..!!!!!
Go and study your books you will know thy the DDP has said in its party manifesto. That it will agree with all countries that are under NEW WORLD ORDER. At least people will come back to theír senses now. That they have a right over sickness and deseases though the redempution.
Alleluyah!!!!!!!
I FULLY SUPPORT THIS brave move, 100 percent. Review after a year to see if any repurcussions.
In Education This Should Also Be Introduced Build Seriousness In Parents & Learners In addition to that sourcing of teaching, learning and assessment resources will simple
i totally agree with the arrangement but there should be measures to be followed, otherwise these monies will end up into some selfish pples pockets, nevertheless i hope it wil also endurce health workers to offer good services to patients
Most countries don’t have so called free health services, then why should Malawi continue with free health services when many people we say are poor use their hard earned money on kachaso. In fact Government should go flat out in introducing fees in all medical facilities, those indeed to poor to afford, should be given ids to receive services without paying.
comment Most countries don’t have so called free health services, then why should Malawi continue with free health services when many people we say are poor use their hard earned money on kachaso. In fact Government should go flat out in introducing fees in all medical facilities, those indeed to poor to afford, should be given ids to receive services without paying.
What will happen when you pay 1500 and being told Mankwala enawo tilibe mukagule ku Pharmacy
Do you know how hard it is to earn 1500 in Malawi
Ukayenda ndimlomwe wayenda wekha siizi muziona
This is a good development but let’s use this funds for intended purpose not to enriching selfish people ..In some countries people in gvt according to how you earn monthly pay only senior citizens and people who don’t work are only the ones who get free medication…so Mr speaker am in support of this motion..
Head spinning!
This will be abused.
This is not true and DISHUMAN becoz more of these so called H/Centres do not have medicines so this governmement simply means that POOR MALAWIANS must DIE anyhow.
Nkhani ya By-pass fees means penalty – chindapusa not charging a patient user fees. Timvetsetsane pano. Eeeeetu eeeeeeeeeeee! If you reside in Chilobwe, you are supposed to go to Zingwangwa Health Centre and only go to Queens if you are too sick under referral. Hence no fees payable. What they want is to ensure that major hospitals are only treating major cases. This is highly recommendable. About the actual fees for medication, lets leave that for another day.
Tsano tisamve kuti nyo nyo nyo pamene nkhaniyi simunamvetse ati?
SITIZAKUSANKHANISONI MU 2019 MUDYERETU BASI. MUKUGANIZA KUTI ANTHU AKU MIDZI AZIKWANITSA? KODI IWE KALIRANI UKUKHALA NGATI UNABADWIRA NTAWUNI BWANJI? OLAMULIRA MWAYAMBA UVE BASI BWANJI SIMUNAIKE PA MANIFESTO YANU MUSANALOWE M’BOMA .ANYAPAPI INU /AMARUWASA
Uku ndiye kufuna kuti anthu afe tsopano. We’ve got private hospitals outside there,,but still more, peolpe are choosing not to go there but to the Public hospital. The fact there is that,,not these people doesnt need to seek medical attention in private hospitals but its because they have nothing they can pay there. Why dont you introduce such a fee in primary schools other than in hospitals. And again in primary schools, you could’ve collected a large amount of money than that you’ll be collecting in hospitals.
Am in support of the development of user fees in hospitals, we easily use our hard earned money to buy condoms instead of buying medication. The user fee got two advantages;
1. I have seen many patients throwing medication under their beds because its free
2. Nurses/Doctors will be responsible in treating the patience, unlike the free treatment where a nurse a trainee as such shouting an old lady won’t be tolerated I guess.
Chonde as Malawians we must be careful with freebies, zilibe ulemu u better pay the fees and you have the voice in case of emergency. In addition the availability of medication will be easy and always – there will be no deficit in medication procurement.
The door is open for the business men/women to assist pay for those who are unable to do so especially operations and other medicines which are expensive to buy.