By Rahim Abdul
Malawi First has questioned plans to deploy 500 Malawian nurses to Israel through a proposed Government-to-Government arrangement, warning that the move could worsen shortages of health personnel in the country.
The organisation’s president, Bon Kalindo, said government should first address staffing gaps in hospitals before supporting the movement of critical health workers to other countries.
Kalindo said Malawi First supports the right of nurses to seek employment abroad but does not support a government-led arrangement that could facilitate the departure of a large number of health workers.
He said Malawi continues to face challenges in retaining skilled health personnel, making the proposed deployment a matter that requires careful consideration of the country’s national interests.
According to Kalindo, international health workforce guidelines discourage the active recruitment of health workers from countries experiencing critical shortages, and Malawi should take such safeguards into account when entering into labour agreements.
Malawi First has consequently called on the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify government’s position on the proposed deployment and disclose the framework under which the arrangement would operate.
The organisation has also questioned the involvement of former Malawi Chargé d’Affaires to Israel David Bisnowaty in discussions surrounding the proposed deployment, raising concerns about his previous dealings with government.
Kalindo cited several unresolved issues involving Bisnowaty, including allegations surrounding a Ministry of Health procurement process and a court case involving funds linked to the Central Medical Stores Trust.
He further urged government to concentrate on retaining nurses through better working conditions, increased training opportunities and timely deployment of health personnel to facilities facing shortages.
Malawi First has also appealed to President Arthur Peter Mutharika to consider qualified Malawians for diplomatic positions, saying national interests should remain central to both Malawi’s health workforce policies and its diplomatic engagements.
