House backs Morocco medical scholarships

Parliamentary Committee on Health has recommended an increase in scholarships for Malawian medical students in Morocco, saying that country’s health sector offers valuable lessons for Malawi. Presenting a report in Parliament on Wednesday, committee chairperson Anthony Masamba said Malawi should strengthen cooperation with Morocco by investing in medical training and adopting innovations that have transformed healthcare delivery. The committee cited Morocco’s advances in vaccine production, digital health systems and hospital modernisation as areas Malawi could emulate.

The report highlights the Mabio pharmaceutical plant, which produces about 100 million vaccine doses annually, as a model for boosting local vaccine manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports. Masamba said the innovations observed were particularly relevant to strengthening healthcare delivery in rural Malawi. The committee recommended a conclusion of a memorandum of understanding on health, sanitation and social protection, establishing a framework for vaccine and immunisation support, developing a joint roadmap for health workforce development, setting up a digital health innovation laboratory, integrating insurance and cybersecurity into hospital management, and formalising humanitarian cooperation with the Mohammed V Foundation. The report received support from both government and opposition legislators.