Government bemoans slow development in health sector

Minister of Finance Maxwell Mkwezalamba has said there is slow development in the health sector despite economic growth most African countries are experiencing.

Mkwezalamba said this in Lilongwe on Wednesday during the opening of a three-day meeting of government and private sector officials from African countries organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The meeting was aimed at finding ways to eradicate challenges in health systems in Africa.

“There are challenges such as the absence of well-structured and coherent policies and strategies; inadequate regulatory systems; poor infrastructure, inappropriate procurement and management practices; and sluggish public and private investments, which this workshop should find solutions to,” said Mkwezalamba.

He said the workshop should also enhance the public-private partnership towards improving health care delivery systems.

AfDB resident representative to Malawi, Andrew Mwaba, said the workshop is an opportunity for Malawi to learn what other countries are doing to improve health care delivery systems.

He observed that health sectors require adequate funding to make health care accessible to all people.—Mana.