By Chisomo Phiri
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda says her ministry is set to conduct a comprehensive audit of the workforce in health facilities, citing concerns over the possible presence of ghost workers.
Chiponda made the remarks in Mzuzu on Friday after commissioning the expansion and rehabilitation of Mzuzu Urban Community Hospital, alongside 11 other hospitals in the Northern Region, under the Germany-funded Basic Health Services Project.
The minister noted that, despite the recruitment of over 22,000 health workers across various cadres, staffing shortages continue to hinder service delivery.
“We want to have a clear database of all workers for example, how many people are working at Rumphi Hospital or Mzuzu Central Hospital? We do not want to have ghost workers,” she said.
On the €10 million Basic Health Services Project,Chiponda commended the German government for its support, noting that most of the rehabilitated hospitals are located in rural areas.
German Ambassador to Malawi Ute König praised the quality of the work, despite challenges such as COVID-19 and adverse weather conditions that affected timelines.
