His Excellency, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, has announced plans to establish a National Health Services Fund to independently mobilize resources for faster procurement of medical equipment, repairs, and essential medicines in health facilities across the country.
He made the announcement on Monday at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe during the official opening of Malawi’s first-ever National Cancer Centre, a state-of-the-art facility funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Government of India, and the Government of Malawi, at a total cost of US$25 million.
The centre features six treatment bunkers and advanced radiation therapy equipment. Malawi registers over 18,000 new cancer cases annually, with about 200 patients currently on the waiting list for overseas treatment.
President Chakwera emphasized that the proposed health fund will be operational soon after the September 16th general elections.
“One key initiative I am preparing to launch in collaboration with Malawians is the National Health Services Fund, which will generate additional resources independently to ensure facilities like this Cancer Centre are never short of medicines or face delays due to broken machines,” said the President.
He commended the collaborative efforts that made the cancer centre a reality:
“We could not have done it without the generosity and technical support of the IAEA, the commitment of our local cancer specialists, and the partnership of the Government of India, whose President visited Malawi just nine months ago,” Chakwera noted.
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda described the centre as a symbol of renewed hope for cancer patients in Malawi. She called on health workers to put patient welfare above financial gain.
IAEA Director General Raphael Mariano Grossi reaffirmed his agency’s commitment, stating that the centre is fully equipped to provide world-class cancer treatment.
Lilongwe City West MP George Zulu praised the development, urging cancer patients to remain hopeful, as cancer is treatable.
India’s High Commissioner to Malawi, Subbiah Gopalakrishnan, pledged continued support to Malawi’s healthcare sector, particularly in the fight against cancer.
