Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Anthony Masamba, has called on the government to present a comprehensive report to Parliament outlining progress on key health sector reforms.
Masamba said the report should detail measures being implemented by the Ministry of Health, including local resource mobilization, budget priorities and the recapitalization of Central Medical Stores.
He noted that while the committee supports the reforms, their implementation must prioritize the protection of vulnerable citizens.
“We appreciate the reforms, but they must be implemented in a way that protects the most vulnerable. We do not want a situation where Malawians are forced to pay out of pocket for healthcare,” Masamba said.
He cited declining donor support as a growing concern, stressing the need for Malawi to strengthen domestic financing mechanisms to sustain the health sector.
Masamba proposed the introduction of “sin taxes” on products such as sugar, salt and alcohol as one way of increasing resources directed toward healthcare.
Despite a rise in funding, he said major gaps remain, including a debt exceeding K70 billion at Central Medical Stores, calling for urgent recapitalization and dedicated foreign exchange to ensure steady procurement of essential medicines.
