Medical Aid Society of Malawi (Masm) says it is planning to establish a modern specialist hospital as part of efforts to reduce the rising cost of referring patients abroad for treatment.
Masm board chairperson George Chitera said in Blantyre on Friday during the 41st Annual General Meeting that the society spends about $11 000 (K19 million) per patient on overseas treatment and medication access.
He said in addition to medical expenses, the referrals attract substantial costs related to travel, accommodation and other logistical support.
Chitera said the proposed facility will enable Malawians to access specialised treatment locally instead of travelling to countries such as Tanzania and India.
“It does not make sense that every time there is a special case we have to send people outside the country. We want to develop a facility that can provide the same specialised services here in Malawi,” he said.
Among other issues, members at the AGM raised concerns over late payments to hospitals and persistent service shortfalls affecting access to care.
Chindikani Sichinga, a member, said that while Masm’s plans for major investment are welcome, members expected immediate improvements in basic service delivery.
“While they are thinking of big investment, a sign of improvement should start from the small things,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, Chitera said the shortfalls are largely driven by variations in charges among healthcare service providers.
During the meeting, Masm reported a K5.23 billion surplus for the year ended December 2025.
