Malawi government says it is exploring strategies to increase domestic health financing as donor support continues to decline, a move aimed at ensuring sustainable healthcare service delivery.
The Secretary for Health, Dr Samson Mndolo, made the remarks at a side event of the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) 2025, which is underway in Kigali, Rwanda.
During his presentation, Dr Mndolo acknowledged that the country’s healthcare system remains heavily donor-dependent, with external funding accounting for approximately 60% of the total health budget.
“We have had our health financing dialogue, identifying potential areas to mobilise additional resources. At the same time, we emphasise the prudent use of available funds,” said Dr Mndolo. “This is where the ‘One Plan – One Budget – One Monitoring and Evaluation’ approach comes in, ensuring better integration of efforts to maximize resources.”
The Health Secretary also highlighted the critical role of Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) in Malawi’s healthcare system. With 15,000 HSAs currently on the government payroll, he stressed the need for further training and motivation to enhance their effectiveness in delivering universal health coverage.
Commending Malawi’s efforts, VillageReach Country Director for Malawi, Ndasowa Chitule, praised the government for formally enrolling community health workers on the payroll, a step many African countries are yet to take.
“This demonstrates Malawi’s commitment to strengthening community health systems. However, more investment is needed to expand the workforce, enhance training, and provide resources to ensure these workers operate effectively,” Chitule noted.
Speaking earlier during the official opening of the conference, Rwanda’s Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana urged African Nations to develop innovative and homegrown solutions to strengthen health care systems amid global health financing challenges.
This year’s Africa Health Agenda International Conference jointly convened by Amref Health Africa, Rwandan Health Ministry, WHO Regional Office for Africa and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has brought together over 1,800 delegates from 56 countries in Africa and beyond.
