Thyolo Health Services

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Health services in Malawi are provided by the public, private for-profit (PFP), and private not-for-profit (PNFP) sectors. The following governmental departments provide public services: the Ministry of Health (MOH), district, town, and city councils, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Security (Police and Prisons). These departments work in collaboration with the MOH; however, respective funding is planned and disbursed individually.

The PFP sector is small, but growing, and includes an array of private hospitals and clinics that range from group to solo practices. PFP entities are usually solo practices that are staffed by clinical officers or general practitioners. Primarily, the PFP sector offers curative services with minimal laboratory support. Another important component of our health care system is the traditional healers, who would be considered part of the PFP sector.

The PNFP sector comprises religious institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), statutory corporations, and companies. The major religious providers are organized under the Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM). Most PFP and PNFP services charge user fees. Through the ministry of health (MOH), the government enters into different service-level agreements with the PNFP sector to provide essential services, such as maternal and child health care, especially in rural and remote areas.

The government of Malawi has a national healthcare service, which is government-funded, and free to all Malawians at the point of delivery.


Primary care services:

Covers village clinics in rural hard-to-reach areas and health centres where curative, maternity, and preventive services are offered in the Essential Health Package (EHP) free of charge.


Secondary care services:

District hospitals and Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) hospitals provide general services, Primary Health Care (PHC) services, and technical supervision to lower units

District hospitals provide service training for health personnel

CHAM operates 36%  of health facilities (mostly rural)

The government pays for certain program-specific essential medicines and all local staffing costs


Tertiary care services: