The Ministry of Health and Sanitation has announced the launch of the 2026 Surgical Camps, a nationwide initiative set to run from 20th to 31st July 2026 in partnership with the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, ECSA-HC.
This has been stated in a press release signed by Principal Secretary for Health and
Sanitation,Bestone Chisamile.
The camps will be conducted at three central hospitals namely Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, and Mzuzu Central Hospital in the north.
The aim is to expand access to specialized surgical services and reduce the backlog of patients who have been waiting for procedures that were delayed.
At Kamuzu Central Hospital, health teams will perform 80 gynaecological surgeries over the 12-day period. Officials say the focus there will help address a significant demand for women’s reproductive health operations in the Central Region.
Mzuzu Central Hospital will host a broader package of services. Planned procedures include 60 general surgeries, 30 paediatric surgeries, and 30 orthopaedic surgeries.
In addition, a medical camp will provide specialist consultations and patient management to ease pressure on outpatient departments.
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital will concentrate on 50 general surgery procedures and 50 urology surgery procedures.
Health authorities expect this to bring relief to patients in the Southern Region who have waited months for specialized care.
In total, more than 300 patients are expected to benefit directly from the surgical interventions and specialist medical services offered during the camps.
The Ministry is urging all eligible patients who have already been scheduled by the participating hospitals to honor their appointments as communicated by their respective facilities.
Government, through the Ministry, expressed appreciation to ECSA-HC, specialist teams, partners, and healthcare workers for their continued support in improving the health and well-being of the people of Malawi.
With surgical backlogs remaining a challenge in public hospitals, officials say the 2026 camps are part of broader efforts to strengthen service delivery.
The Ministry added that lessons from this exercise will help shape future outreach programs aimed at making life-saving surgery more accessible across Malawi.
