Silence on illegal clinics in Northern Region worries Medical Council of Malawi
Medical Council of Malawi (MCM) says it is surprised and worried that people in the northern region do not report illegal health facilities and any malpractices by medical practitioners.
MCM’s Registrar Kondwani Mkandawire on Friday told traditional leaders and heads of sectors in Rumphi District that the council was surprised because it has never received a complaint on medical personnel malpractices from the region.
“We don’t believe that things are perfectly normal in the health service in this region. That’s the reason we came for this awareness meeting to help communities realise that some clinics do operate illegally and are a health hazard,” he said.
Mkandawire explained that unregistered health service providers have contributed much to the dwindling standards of health delivery services in the country.
“The health sector has been compromised; it is a threat to human life. In promoting health for all Malawians we will never tire to deal with all illegal health service providers,” Mkandawire said.
To that effect, he asked people in the region to report all illegal clinics so that they can be closed.
Senior Chief Mwankhunikira said lack of knowledge on the operations of health service providers might have contributed to the absence of queries from the district.
He hailed MCM for conducting the sensitization meetings saying they (chiefs) are ready to get rid of illegal clinics in their communities.
Mkandawire expressed hope that the country-wide sensitization meetings will help bring sanity in the health sector.
“Malawians must demand quality service from our health personnel and nothing less. In order to improve the health sector, we have to be vigilant,” he said.–Malawi News Agency
