HEALTH CARE FACTS
The Health Sector
Malawi has a network of health facilities.
These health facilities are categorized into three namely: public, private for profit, and private not for profit health facilities. The Ministry of Health is the overall coordinator of the health service and health care delivery in Malawi. In the public health care system, there are 4 central hospitals each located in the 4 main cities of Malawi. These are Kamuzu Central hospital in Lilongwe, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Zomba Central Hospital in the city of Zomba and Mzuzu Central hospital in the city of Mzuzu. These hospitals handle much more complicated cases and surgeries. Apart from the four central hospitals there is a network of the district hospitals in all the 28 districts of Malawi. On top of this, there is also a network of health centres and clinics in each and every district.
The not for profit health care system is coordinated by Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM). This has various mission hospitals in several selected areas. These hospitals charge reasonable fees for their services just to cover the cost of such services. The private profit making health facilities provide their services at a much higher fee than the CHAM hospitals.
St Gabriel's Hospital was founded in 1959 by Carmelite Sisters from Luxembourg under the Dioceses of Lilongwe. Since its modest beginnings as a small bush hospital, St Gabriel's Hospital has come a long way. Today, it is a fully operating, modern hospital responsible for the medical care of some 250,000 people, mostly from the rural areas surrounding Namitete. However, it also has patients arriving from Lilongwe and other parts of Malawi, as well as from Zambia and Mozambique, seeking specialised diagnoses and medical treatments. The hospital now offers 250 beds and treats approximately 12,000 patients (inpatient care), as well as more than 40,000 ambulatory patients per year. The hospital has 24 hospice beds which is a big milestone in the hospital’s history.
Malawi has a network of health facilities.
These health facilities are categorized into three namely: public, private for profit, and private not for profit health facilities. The Ministry of Health is the overall coordinator of the health service and health care delivery in Malawi. In the public health care system, there are 4 central hospitals each located in the 4 main cities of Malawi. These are Kamuzu Central hospital in Lilongwe, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Zomba Central Hospital in the city of Zomba and Mzuzu Central hospital in the city of Mzuzu. These hospitals handle much more complicated cases and surgeries. Apart from the four central hospitals there is a network of the district hospitals in all the 28 districts of Malawi. On top of this, there is also a network of health centres and clinics in each and every district.
The not for profit health care system is coordinated by Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM). This has various mission hospitals in several selected areas. These hospitals charge reasonable fees for their services just to cover the cost of such services. The private profit making health facilities provide their services at a much higher fee than the CHAM hospitals.
St Gabriel's Hospital was founded in 1959 by Carmelite Sisters from Luxembourg under the Dioceses of Lilongwe. Since its modest beginnings as a small bush hospital, St Gabriel's Hospital has come a long way. Today, it is a fully operating, modern hospital responsible for the medical care of some 250,000 people, mostly from the rural areas surrounding Namitete. However, it also has patients arriving from Lilongwe and other parts of Malawi, as well as from Zambia and Mozambique, seeking specialised diagnoses and medical treatments. The hospital now offers 250 beds and treats approximately 12,000 patients (inpatient care), as well as more than 40,000 ambulatory patients per year. The hospital has 24 hospice beds which is a big milestone in the hospital’s history.