LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus has disclosed establishing a National Health Services Fund, which will independently generate additional resources for the speedy procurement of equipment, repairs, and medicines for health facilities in the country.
Chakwera made the remarks on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Kamuzu Central Hospital in the City of Lilongwe, where he presided over the official opening of a new state of the art National Cancer Centre.
The facility which has been funded by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the OPEC Fund for International Development, Indian Government and Malawi Government to the tune of US$25 million.
The facility boasts of six treatment bunkers, including facilities for advanced radiation therapy.
Malawi records over 18,000 new cancer cases annually, and around 200 patients are on the waiting list for overseas treatment.
Chakwera said the fund will be created soon after the forth-coming September 16, general elections.
“Specifically, one key initiative that I am preparing to put in place in collaboration with Malawians soon after the elections is the establishment of the National Health Services Fund.
“The facility will independently generate additional resources for the speedy procurement of equipment, repairs, and medicines for health facilities like this Cancer Centre, so that no patient is ever denied treatment here because of a broken machine or drug shortages. This is just one among several initiatives in the pipeline,” he explains.
The Malawi leader therefore hailed all partners both local and international, for helping Malawi in the creation of the first ever national Cancer Centre.
“We could not have done it without the generosity and technical support of the International Atomic Energy Agency. We could not have done it without the support of our partners, especially the Government of India, whose President came to visit us here in Malawi just nine months ago.
“We could not have done it without the hard work of our cancer specialists, who have lobbied Government after Government to develop this Cancer Treatment Centre without success, but who never gave up,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the opening of the centre has brought about hope to the people of Malawi who have been facing challenges in accessing Cancer treatment. On this note, Chiponda advised the health practitioners at the facility to prioritize the well being of Malawians and not money.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Raphael Mariano Grossi said the centre has been equipped with state of the art machines to offer good treatment that Malawians deserve.
Member of Parliament for Lilongwe City West George Zulu said the centre will go a long way in assisting Malawians that have been diagonized with the disease. On this note, Zulu urged Cancer patients never to lose hope because the disease is curable.
India High Commissioner to Malawi Subbiah Gopalakrishnan said his country will continue supporting health-care in Malawi particularly in the fight against Cancer.
