College of Medicine calls for govt support

College of Medicine Principal Professor Kenneth Maleta has asked government to honour recent incentive packages aimed at retaining specialist staff in the country.

Maleta made the call in Lilongwe on Wednesday during the launch of the college’s first ever launch of a postgraduate training programme in obstetrics and gynaecology at the institution.

Said Maleta: “We understand these are difficult times for our country, but it is our sincere hope that the incentive packages for training specialist staff in the country will be honoured irrespective of the current fiscal challenges.”

Minister of Health Catherine Gotani Hara said government is still discussing with its development partners to find means to motivate the trainees besides continuing to pay their full salary during the four-year training period.