The Ministry of Health says it is preparing to procure new ambulances and upgrade rural health centers as part of a nationwide effort to reduce the distance citizens travel for medical care.
Minister of Health Madalitso Baloyi said the ministry has already identified resources to purchase about seven ambulances for distribution across health facilities.
She added that the government is finalizing a capital investment plan to guide upgrades of health centers into rural hospitals.
“We are in the process of procuring about seven ambulances that will be distributed to various health facilities.
“Most of the constituencies that brought about those questions are already in the plans, and once resources have been identified, we will be able to upgrade the health centers to rural hospitals,” said Baloyi.
According to Baloyi, a nationwide assessment mapped communities where people walk 30 km to 60 km for basic healthcare.
She said the new policy will ensure that Malawians do not to travel over seven kilometers just to access health services.
“According to the policy, we want Malawians not to travel over seven kilometers just to access health services. So, we did not visit specific health centers, but we did an assessment for the whole country to establish which areas people are travelling long distances. And currently we have, almost in every district, people travelling 30 kilometers, 50, 60, just to access the health facilities,” she said.
Baloyi said the findings informed a capital investment plan listing priority areas for construction and upgrades of health centres.
“Once resources have been identified, we now begin the process of allocating where we upgrade and where we construct,” Baloyi said.
The minister also said the government intends to leverage the Constituency Development Fund after President Arthur Peter Mutharika announced a MWK5 billion annual allocation to councils in upgrading the health sector.
Baloyi said the ministry will begin implementing improvements as soon as funding becomes available.