Malawi’s president has issued a tough new order forcing government health workers to give up private clinic ownership or face dismissal.
President Peter Mutharika has banned public health workers from owning, operating, or holding shares in private clinics and pharmacies, in a major move to tackle corruption and conflicts of interest in the healthcare sector.
The executive order also prohibits government medical staff from demanding or accepting money or favours from patients before providing treatment.
The directive follows allegations that some health workers were pressuring patients to seek care at private clinics — often their own — or demanding illegal payments for services meant to be free in public hospitals.
Mutharika described such practices as unethical, unlawful, and a violation of patients’ constitutional rights.
Under the order, affected health workers have 30 days to sell off or relinquish their private clinic interests or risk dismissal and possible legal action.
The Malawi Health Equity Network welcomed the decision, calling it a long-overdue step to protect patients, but urged strict enforcement and whistleblower protections.
The move signals Malawi’s tougher stance on restoring trust, fairness, and accountability in its public healthcare system.
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