Malawi and the US have signed an agreement to facilitate rapid sharing of specimens, samples, sequencing data and related information on novel and emerging infectious diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential.
Ministry of Health and Sanitation has since allayed fears about data sharing, saying no data will be transmitted without authorisation.
The ministry’s position comes against a backlash from local health rights activists who yesterday charged that the agreement lacks transparency and is heavily skewed towards the US in terms of benefits at the expense of Malawians.
The agreement, signed on February 11 2026, seeks to strengthen global health security by supporting outbreak response and the development of diagnostics and medical countermeasures.
Under the framework, Malawi will share requested specimens within seven days of a US request while the US, in return, pledges to give Malawi priority access to any resulting diagnostics, vaccines or therapeutics, “immediately after meeting its own domestic needs”.
The agreement also authorises the US Government to share specimens and related data with up to 10 non-US Government entities capable of developing medical countermeasures.
In an interview yesterday, Ministry of Health and Sanitation spokesperson Benedicto Mbewe said safeguards are built in: “No specimen shall be shared without authorisation from the Malawi Government in accordance with existing laws and internationally agreed protocols.”
But health financing experts and rights activists have raised concerns about equity, transparency and benefit-sharing.
International Coalition on Health Financing Advocacy chairperson Maziko Matemba said the “US-first” clause is a major limitation.
“During a severe global pandemic, US domestic demand could consume manufacturing capacity for months, leaving Malawi vulnerable despite having provided the foundational data,” he said.
Matemba said that while the commitment to provide products at or below US government prices is positive, the qualification “subject to funding and applicable laws” creates a legal escape route.
Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe said collaboration should be founded on equity and mutual benefit.
“Malawians should be confident that specimens contributed in the interest of global health will be handled ethically, that patients’ rights and privacy will be protected and that Malawi will receive fair and meaningful benefits,” he said.
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation executive director Michael Kaiyatsa, whose organisation is part of a coalition of 57 African non-governmental organisations that protested similar deals, said the agreement lacks clear guarantees.
“Malawians deserve to know what specimens are being shared, for what purpose, who receives them and what outcomes result,” he said.
The specimen deal comes months after Malawi and the US signed a five-year $936 million bilateral health cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) in January 2026.
According to the US Department of State, the US intends to provide up to $792 million to support HIV and Aids, malaria, other infectious diseases and disease surveillance.
Malawi committed to increase its own annual health spending by $143.8 million over the MoU period.
That arrangement, however, drew scrutiny over data protection and ownership, with CSOs calling for stronger privacy clauses.
