By Wezzie Gausi
A new World Health Organisation (WHO) report has raised concerns over the quality of healthcare in Malawi and other African countries, saying patients are being misdiagnosed.
The report, titled ‘State of the Health Workforce in Africa 2026: Plan. Train. Retain’, also indicates that some patients receive treatment that falls short of recommended clinical standards despite steady growth of the continent’s health workforce.
The study shows that health workers correctly diagnose only 62 percent of clinical cases while just 40 percent of patients receive treatment that is consistent with evidence-based clinical guidelines.
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In more complex cases involving multiple illnesses, the rate of correct diagnosis and treatment falls to 27 percent in the continent.
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According to the WHO, the findings highlight that Africa’s health challenge is no longer simply about increasing the number of health workers but ensuring they have the skills and competence to deliver quality care.
“The evidence regarding medical competence remains concerning. A weighted synthesis of large cross-country studies reveals that health workers accurately diagnose only approximately 62 percent of clinical cases and provide treatment aligned with evidence-based guidelines in just 40 percent of cases,” the report reads.
The report notes that Africa is producing more than 325,000 health professionals annually, and the density of key health professionals increased from 22 per 10,000 people in 2022 to 24 per 10,000 in 2024, representing a 7.5 percent increase.
Commenting on the findings, health rights advocate Maziko Matemba said the report reflected the reality in Malawi.
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“Our health workers are dedicated but are working in an environment where structural weaknesses make it difficult to provide accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment,” Matemba said.
He said Malawi’s shortage of health workers remains a major obstacle, noting that the WHO report places the country’s health workforce density at just 6.69 health workers per 10,000 people, compared to the African average of 15.68 per 10,000.
The WHO report calls on African governments to strengthen competency-based education, improve supervision, expand continuous professional development and reinforce quality assurance systems across health facilities.
According to the report, targeted competency-based interventions can improve clinical performance by between 7.5 percent and 12.1 percent, although lasting improvements require sustained investment in mentorship and stronger health systems.
Secretary for Health Dan Namalika was yet to respond to a questionnaire as we went to press.
