Malawi MP’s block cancer centre relocation: Approves K5.3bn loan bill
Malawi Parliament Tuesday allowed Government to borrow from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) Fund for International Development $13.1 million (about K5.3 billion) for purposes of constructing the National Cancer Centre in Lilongwe.
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Development, Goodall Gondwe told the House that would be constructed next to College of Medicine in Blantyre, not Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), claiming that the ‘principles’ of the loanfelt the centre be constructed adjacent to a medical school.
But this did not go down well most members including the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health (PCH), Julian Lunguzi who vehemently challenged Gondwe’s assertions.
Lunguzi argued that Opec Fund did not dictate such a requirement in its Memorandum of Understanding with the government.
Most MPs argued that Lilongwe was more ideal for the Cancer Centre because there more specialist medical doctors at KCH where University of North Calorina is supporting pathology services for free while in Blantyre, they are provided by College of Medicine and Mwaiwanthu Priavte Hospital at a fee.
After a lengthy and constructive debate, MPs passed the loan bill as the House agreed to have the Cancer Centre be constructed in Lilongwe.
According to Finance Minister, when the centre is constructed, government would save K480 million a year which is spent on cancer patients’ referrals outside the country.
Gondwe said centre will adversely reduce the amount money government spends on cancer patients.
The Finance Minister disclosed that on average government spend US $30,000 per patient receiving radiotherapy treatment.
“On average Malawi sends over 40 cancer patients abroad for treatment which translate to K480 million per year. This amount does not include patients who pay for themselves or those supported by insurance companies. These figures also exclude airfares and accommodation costs,” said Gondwe.
Hon Nkhata, every true Malawi is happy with your contribution on the cancer centre! Telling them without affilliation, that was factual. DPP inangoti kukamwa yasa.
Kodi why did the committee not elect Nkhata as its chairman. There was substance in his debate.
Thats the way to debate.
Mmanja mwa ma MP athu equity ndi imeneyo. Centre iyi yikhalide ku Lilongwe.
With this, the country can now see why malawi college of health sciences has not developed, the government used to believe that what ever college of medicine say is gospel truth not knowing that COM want to suffocate the other college. MOH wake up.
This centre should have built in Mzuzu for a balancing act. All along pple from z north have been following major establishments of national interest either in the centre or south. 50 years after independence what is it that was located in z north of national interest- that is not in other regions that can draw pple frm Nsanje to chitipa, mchinji to likoma except kayelekera? But then that is a natural endowment.
For equitable distribution, someone has to reflect !
Bravo Nkhata and team!! Lets be open minded osati kungoti kakaka ati poti College of medicine ili ku BT!! Ife zitikhuze!! Mwailiratu a Masamba Cancer centre!! Ntooo!!!!
Mpaka uyu minister kumapezeka ku project ina yake early in the morning,cholinga atape basi
DON’T WORRY ABOUT YA NGONGOLEYO, I HAVE MOBILIZED PHILANTHROPISTS WHO WILL ESTABLISH A CANCER FACILITY IN BLANTYRE GRATIS.
APM be very careful the way the Chewas are taking all developments. We had Bingu. You know how Bingu played his game which ended up all big developments being planted here in Lomwe land. Look at MUST. Now the Chewa are winning the games regardless of the red card we showed them on 20 may 2014. They started with stadium and now its Cancer hospital. What are you doing? All the Lomwes are not happy with such tendency and growth of the Chewas. I know we have outplayed the Tumbukas what remains is to do the same with these members… Read more »
Yapulumka kupita ku ndata ngati MUST