KCH turns to locum staff to ease health worker shortage

Patients seeking treatment at Kamuzu Central Hospital could soon see improved access to care as the facility moves to tackle a persistent shortage of health workers.

The hospital has launched a continuous recruitment drive for locum doctors and nurses, a move aimed at strengthening service delivery and reducing pressure on existing medical staff.

KCH is currently inviting qualified doctors and nurses who are registered with their respective professional regulatory bodies to join its pool of locum staff.

Speaking in an interview, Kamuzu Central Hospital Public Relations Officer Winnie Yotamu said the recruitment exercise is specifically targeting qualified nurses and medical doctors who are licensed to practise in Malawi.

“Qualified nurses and doctors registered with their respective councils to practice, such as the Nurses Council and the Medical Council of Malawi, are the cadres we are targeting,” she said.

Yotamu explained that the hospital has not set a specific recruitment target because the exercise is intended to remain open on a continuous basis, allowing the institution to respond quickly to staffing needs as they arise.

“There are no specific numbers, as this is a continuous process,” she said.

She said the initiative reflects the hospital’s commitment to ensuring that patients continue to receive timely and high-quality healthcare services despite ongoing workforce challenges.

Yotamu added that strengthening the hospital’s workforce is consistent with Malawi’s broader health sector goals and the aspirations of Agenda 2063, which seeks to achieve universal health coverage and improved access to quality healthcare for all citizens.

The recruitment drive comes at a time when many public health facilities across Malawi continue to experience shortages of healthcare professionals, placing additional pressure on existing staff and affecting service delivery.

Health rights activist Dorothy Ngoma welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important short-term intervention to help bridge immediate staffing gaps.

However, Ngoma cautioned that the country’s long-term healthcare challenges cannot be solved through temporary staffing arrangements alone.

Ngoma hails the initiative

She said sustainable improvements in healthcare require the recruitment and retention of permanent health workers who can provide consistent services across all hospital departments.

According to Ngoma, shortages in facilities that require continuous 24-hour care, such as intensive care units and surgical departments, pose significant risks to patient safety because continuity of care and strong teamwork are essential in such environments.

“This shortage will always be there. Gaps in 24-hour coverage put lives at risk, particularly during complex surgeries or in intensive care units where continuity and team cohesion are essential,” she said.

Ngoma also expressed concern that prolonged reliance on locum staff could become more expensive than investing in permanent employees.

She argued that locum arrangements are most effective when used to respond to emergencies, such as disease outbreaks or unexpected staff shortages, rather than as a long-term solution to chronic workforce deficits.

Malawi’s public health system continues to face a shortage of trained medical personnel, a challenge that continues to affect the delivery of essential healthcare services across the country.