A parliamentary inquiry has exposed a severe corruption crisis within Malawi's public healthcare system, where patients are reportedly forced to pay bribes for free medical services, according to Nyasa Times. The investigation revealed that staff at public hospitals have been issuing fake receipts, stealing medication for private sale, and charging vulnerable families for basic care. During a session with the Parliamentary Committee on Health, officials disclosed that one patient at Kamuzu Central Hospital was coerced into paying K90,000 for endoscopy services, while another was charged K18,500 for a tooth extraction.
Secretary for Health Dan Namarika appeared before the committee alongside senior referral hospital officials to address the findings, Nyasa Times reports. Namarika formally acknowledged the extortion and confirmed that the government has begun taking disciplinary action against healthcare workers involved in the illegal payments. The parliamentary probe follows recent media investigations detailing how patients across the country are routinely denied care unless they pay illicit fees.
In other public health developments, Malawi continues to manage ongoing cholera transmissions. A multi-country epidemiological report published by the World Health Organisation on May 29 indicated that Malawi recorded 14 cholera-related deaths during the latest global monitoring period. The country remains under observation as health agencies work to contain outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea across the African region.