By Jones Gadama
The Government of Malawi has once again demonstrated visionary, kind, and patriotic leadership with its decision to pursue a government-to-government agreement to deploy 500 nurses to Israel.
This bold move has been hailed by the Coalition for Health Workers, HRH Plus, as a landmark step that puts Malawians first while strengthening the nation’s health sector.
According to HRH Plus, this initiative reflects the deep compassion and foresight of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s administration.
At a time when over 4,000 nurses remain unemployed in the country, the government has turned a challenge into an opportunity by creating safe, dignified, and structured pathways for health workers to access international opportunities.
Unlike irregular migration, this G2G arrangement ensures that workers are protected, that Malawi benefits as a source country, and that the dignity of health professionals is upheld.
HRH Plus Executive Director Tiyamike Harold Goliati described the move as exactly how international recruitment should be handled.
He noted that ethical, transparent, and government-led recruitment brings pride to Malawi and opens doors for health workers who have long been waiting for employment.
_“When government leads with wisdom, even migration becomes development. This is APM’s Malawi,”_ Goliati said.
The Coalition further highlighted that Malawi has a proud history of benefiting from international health worker mobility.
In the years after independence, nurses who trained in countries like Israel and Germany returned home to build nursing colleges, universities, and to take up leadership roles that transformed the health system.
In the early 2000s, when many health workers left for developed countries, Malawi also received major support through the Emergency Human Resources Programme, which included salary top-ups, expanded training, and technical assistance.
The new agreement with Israel revives that same spirit of mutual benefit and partnership.
HRH Plus also commended the government for aligning this initiative with the World Health Organization’s Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.
The code encourages ethical recruitment and calls on destination countries to co-invest back into source countries.
In that regard, HRH Plus has urged government to pursue more bilateral agreements and has called on donors and development partners to support co-investments in training, skills exchange, and salary enhancement for health workers in Malawi.
In a position statement signed by Tiyamike Harold Goliati, Executive Director and Benson Edwinson Phiri, Technical Advisor, HRH Plus reaffirmed its commitment to work hand in hand with government.
The Coalition stated that President Mutharika’s administration has shown it truly cares for health workers and for all Malawians.
_“This is empathetic, patriotic, and visionary leadership that saves lives and creates hope,”_ the statement read.
With this decision, the APM administration has proven that it is possible to export expertise, protect Malawian workers, and still build a stronger health system at home.
It is leadership that inspires confidence and gives hope for the future of health in Malawi.
