A stakeholders’ meeting to discuss President Peter Mutharika’s February 17 Executive Order banning public sector healthcare workers from running private clinics ended inconclusively on Tuesday, The Nation has learnt.
Secretary for Health Dr. Dan Namarika chaired the meeting, according to multiple sources who attended.
The Human Resource for Health Coalition (HRHC), unhappy with the meeting’s outcome, hinted at filing for a judicial review while the Society of Medical Doctors (SMD) stated it will give further negotiations a chance.
Mutharika. | Nation
On its part, National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives (Nonm) said it was not satisfied with the meeting that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation convened and has called for further engagement.
Mutharika ordered that there should be no soliciting of money from patients and barred public health facilities employees from
owning, operating or holding shares in a private health clinic or pharmacy. The second directive met with resistance from the healthcare workers who, among others, argue that it infringes on their right of economic activities.
HRHC chairperson Solomon Chomba said in an interview yesterday that the coalition agrees with the President’s first directive, but is still against the second order which impinges their rights.
He said the coalition is still in touch with its members to move the courts for a judicial review on the matter.
“Processes are at an advanced stage, you will soon hear from us,” he said.
SMD president Dr. Victor Mithi said they were satisfied with the engagement, but there are “some few issues” that needed to be clarified.
He said the two sides shared suggestions and hoped that they would come up with a policy to address all the concerns in the coming weeks because their concerns were also genuine.
On intentions to go to court, Mithi said: “When you are negotiating you don’t say I will go to court. It will depend on the outcome of the negotiation. We are happy with the steps that have
been taken so far.”
Ministry of Health and Sanitation spokesperson Fostina Kamanga referred The Nation to Namarika, who neither picked our calls nor responded to a WhatsApp message.
Meanwhi le, Nat ional Advocacy Platform (NAP) and Health and Rights Education Programme (Hrep Malawi) have commended the two sides for initiating the meeting to find a solution to the impasse.
NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said it is a positive development because the platform recommended that there were steps to be taken before the executive order is implemented.
On his part, Hrep Malawi executive director Maziko Matemba: “In our statements we have said there should be an engagement between the two sides. That conversation is important, more especially on the implementation of the order.”
In a related development, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has announced several measures to tackle corruption in public hospitals.
ACB acting director general Gabriel Chembezi on Tuesday issued a statement directing institutional integrity committees in public hospitals to undertake corruption risk assessments and integrity training for their staff members within six months.
A health systems management expert and consultant for Ipas Malawi, Chris Kandionamaso has since cautioned that the order could worsen staff shortages and limit services, especially in rural areas.
“The biggest danger is reduced access to health care. Competent health workers may opt for early retirement or leave the country to manage their private clinics,” he said.The African Union Abuja Declaration commits member States to allocate at least 15 percent of national budgets to health, a target Malawi has yet to meet.
