The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development says it plans to engage stakeholders on the introduction of user fees in public hospitals and secondary schools to ensure that health services and education in public institutions are accessible and available to all.
The ministry’s chief director of Economic Planning and Development, Peter Simbani, told journalists on the sidelines of the launch of an Oxfam in Malawi report on Closing the Divide in Malawi: How to Reduce Inequality and Increase Prosperity for All that the issue of user fees requires further discussions.
Oxfam International regional director for Southern Africa, Nellie Nyang’wa, said Oxfam policy is no user fees in public hospitals to avoid discriminating against vulnerable people in terms of access to public services.
