Drugs worth five MK5 billion are stolen every year in the country’s public hospitals, Minister of Health Dr. Peter Kumpalume revealed when he visited Nsanje District Health Office Thursday. Kumpalume said every year government allocates K17 billion for drug procurement of which one third of the total allocation is lost due to drug theft. The […]
Malawi’s Minister of Health Dr. Peter Kumpalume, MP, has embroiled himself in a procurement controversy after he allegedly receiving a MK50 million bribe from fellow Member of Parliament, David Bisnowaty, and Nyasa Times has established. The youthful minister has since embarked on a journey of intimidating procurement officers including a donor representative in the Ministry, […]
Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume has moved in swiftly to warn clinicians that they would be fired if they force patients pay money in public hospitals. The minister made an impromptu visit to Nsanje where he visited heath centres where people complained that they were forced to pay for services in public hospitals. He also […]
The health services which are supposed to be provided for free to Malawians in government’s public health facilities are said to be paid for as some medical personnel at Nsanje District Health Office are allegedly demanding cash from patients. The development has brought fear to the people who are needy and cannot afford to pay […]
Leprosy, a disease older than the Bible, is back in Malawi and has hit seven districts. Leonard Mawaya, program manager for the Department of Leprosy and Skin Diseases at the Ministry of Health, said the disease was restricted to Balaka in 2015 but has now spread to Nkhotakotakota, Phalombe, Mangochi, Mzimba, Salima and Machinga. “As […]
Government has warned of a cholera outbreak in Phalombe following the rise in cases of districts that surround Lake Chirwa. Ministry of Health spokesman Adrian Chikumbe said there is severe sanitation around Lake Chirwa. He said this has led to the rise of cholera cases in Machinga which now stands at 95 and 29 in […]
Malawi government decision to distribute 9 million mosquito nets has ignited a fresh debate on whether this system is an effective way of dealing with malaria, a disease blamed for the high rate of under five children deaths. Adrian Chikumbe, ministry of Health spokesperson is urging families to register with officials to ensure they get […]
Family planning officials in Mulanje are pointing fingers at Mozambican women for draining family planning method resources from the cash strapped Malawi government. Margaret Mchere, an official responsible for family planning methods at Mulanje District Hospital said there are 129944 child bearing women in Mulanje yet 139422 women are accessing the methods in the border […]
One person has died while 26 others are under treatment following cholera outbreaks in Malawi’s eastern districts of Machinga and Zomba, the Ministry of Health has said. By December 25, 2015, according to Secretary for Health, Dr McPhil Magwira, Machinga recorded a cumulative total of 19 cholera cases and one death while Zomba reported 7 […]
The suspension of sixty-three Ministry of Health (MoH) workers could impact negatively on those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, the Malawi Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (Manet+) fears. Government suspended the workers following allegations of embezzlement of millions of dollars of US funds sent for fighting HIV and AIDS. The suspension includes […]
Government says it shocked with reports there is shortage of drugs in public hospitals and several flaws in the delivery of quality health system delivery. Responding to a questionnaire from Nyasa Times, Minister of Information, Tourism and Civic Education Jappie Mhango said he was “shocked” despite admitting growing reports of dwindling health services. Nyasa Times quizzed the […]
Malawi police in the district of Chikwawa have arrested five people in connection to medical drugs stolen from Nyamithuthu Health Centre in Nsanje district. Two of the arrested are medical assistants at the health centre. And the three others namely Precious Phiri, 40, Jimmy Taulo, 30, and Madalitso Sandram, 30, were arrested at Miseu Folo […]
Unites States through its Ambassador to Malawi, Virginia Palmer has welcomed the suspension of 63 people at the Ministry of Health (MoH) on suspicion that they embezzled funds from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). According to the ministry’s Principal Secretary Macphail Magwira, the 63 people have been sent on forced leave to pave the […]
Government has suspended 63 ministry of health workers, including the director of human resource, the director of finance and two chief accountants to pave way for a thorough audit investigation over unjustified withdrawal of allowances and fuel abuse. Sources at Capital Hill, the seat of government in Lilongwe, others who have been suspended also include […]
Chief Secretary to the Government continues to storm public hospitals without notice. Barely days after taking hospital officials by surprise at Ntcheu and Balaka district hospitals respectively, George Mkondiwa has also paid another unannounced visit, this time to Chiradzulu and Machinga hospitals. During the visit on Monday, Mkondiwa was among other things briefed of low […]
Ministry of Health has said K13 billion which donors have pledged to pump into the collapsing public health sector will only be accessed from early next year. The ministry comments come after Nyasa Times observed that most hospitals are struggling to serve patients with some hospitals failing to settle huge debts. Adrian Chikumbe, spokesman for […]
A vocal activist in the public health sector, Maziko Matemba has warned government to tread carefully on public health reform program, saying they should not hurt the poor. Matemba was part of the high level meeting of government, donors and other health stakeholders. He said suggestions to introduce fees in hospitals would harm the majority […]
Chief Secretary to government, George Mkondiwa, has issued a stern warning to public hospital workers who take advantage of their privileged access to government drugs and end up stealing to sell to the public and private entities. The Chief Secretary issued the warning during his surprise visit to Ntcheu and Balaka district hospitals on Wednesday. Of […]