Malawi health unions warn of strike over staffing crisis
10 unions demand government address vacancies and unpaid allowances within 14 days or halt services.
A coalition of 10 health worker unions in Malawi has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to resolve critical staffing shortages, unpaid allowances, and poor hospital conditions. The Human Resource for Health Coalition warned of a nationwide strike that would disrupt healthcare services if their demands are not met.
Coalition chairperson Solomon David Chomba stated that the group petitioned President Peter Mutharika about the worsening health sector crisis. The coalition reported severe staff shortages, with nursing and midwifery vacancies at 54% despite 6,000 qualified nurses being unemployed. Clinician vacancies exceed 75%, with 5,500 trained clinicians also jobless.
The unions also highlighted a 60% vacancy rate in pharmacy services, noting 118 pharmacists, 413 pharmacy technicians, and 1,250 pharmacy assistants have not been recruited. Medical doctors, radiographers, sonographers, and laboratory professionals are also among the unemployed trained health workers.
Why it mattersMalawians face disruptions to healthcare services due to a potential strike by health workers over staffing and pay issues.