Update: Civil society organisations are pressing the Parliamentary Committee on Health for greater investments as lawmakers review the proposed MK1.02 trillion health budget for the 2026/2027 fiscal year. According to Amref Health Africa, the allocation sits at 9.2 percent of the national budget, remaining below the 15 percent Abuja Declaration target. Advocates warned that a 24 percent cut to district health budgets could strain rural facilities and threaten recent improvements in maternal and child mortality rates.
Update: The medical community continues to debate Presidential Executive Order No. 1 of 2026, which prohibits public health workers from operating private clinics following reports of hospital extortion. An analysis highlighted by the Mail & Guardian and the Malawi Medical Journal indicates the policy has ignited a legal and professional dispute. Health experts warn that enforcing a strict ban on dual practice without introducing alternative financial incentives could drive senior clinicians to resign or emigrate, increasing the burden on major referral facilities like Queen Elizabeth and Kamuzu Central hospitals.
In Lilongwe, CTS Courier partnered with the Wash Media Forum to lead a clean-up exercise at Bwaila Hospital. According to Nyasa Times, the joint initiative brought together journalists and corporate staff to sweep and mop the premises, aiming to promote sanitation standards and support hygiene efforts in public health facilities.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme (MLW) announced a new partnership to champion digital access to malaria treatment guidelines, coinciding with regional World Malaria Day preparations. Additionally, MLW announced that researcher Professor Khuzwayo Jere secured a new research award to study diarrhoea and antimicrobial resistance in Malawi.