By Joseph Dumbula
Arthur Peter Mutharika has issued an Executive Order prohibiting public health workers from demanding payments from patients and requiring them to divest ownership in private clinics and pharmacies within 30 days.
The directive, issued on February 16, 2026, follows investigations by local media outlets that exposed widespread corruption in public hospitals, where patients were allegedly asked to pay bribes for services that are legally meant to be free.
Investigations revealed systemic malpractice, including cases in which hospital staff reportedly directed patients to privately owned clinics for faster or better treatment — facilities in which some public health workers allegedly had financial interests.
The new order seeks to protect citizens’ constitutional right to equitable and non-discriminatory access to healthcare services.
“As President of the Republic of Malawi, I bear the grave responsibility to uphold and defend the Constitution of Malawi,” Mutharika stated, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to safeguarding public health services.
The President said he was “deeply disturbed” by the reports of corruption and unethical conduct within government health facilities. He described the solicitation of payments as unlawful, unethical, and incompatible with democratic principles.
“Such behavior is illegal, unethical, and entirely intolerable. It constitutes a violation of the patient’s constitutional right to access health services,” the Executive Order states.
Under the directive:
- No employee of a government hospital or public health institution may solicit, demand, or accept payments or monetary favors from patients.
- Any public health worker found engaging in such misconduct will face immediate dismissal and prosecution under Malawian law.
- Public health workers are prohibited from owning, managing, or holding shares in private clinics or pharmacies.
“Any employee currently possessing such ownership or shares is required to divest within thirty (30) days from the issuance of this Executive Order. Noncompliance will lead to dismissal and potential legal repercussions,” Mutharika said.
The move marks one of the strongest anti-corruption measures targeting Malawi’s public health sector in recent years.
