By Wendy Mkandawire
The Malawi Health Equity Network Executive Director, George Jobe, has described the British government’s recent decision to cut aid to Malawi by 90% for the 2026/2027 financial year as a disaster for the country’s health sector.
Speaking in an interview, Jobe said the announcement should serve as a wake-up call for the government to find alternative ways of sustaining health services.
On Thursday last week, the British government announced a drastic cut in aid for various sectors, with projections of further reductions expected.
The development has raised concerns among Malawians, coming at a time when Malawi is already grappling with previous aid cuts from the United States.
Jobe said the cuts will adversely impact the health sector, noting that the government relies heavily on UK aid to access medical facilities and drugs.
He warned that without immediate action, the reductions could lead to catastrophic consequences for service delivery.
The MHEN boss further urged the government to explore domestic resource mobilization options.
He suggested introducing a levy on motorcycle operators and vehicles, with proceeds channeled directly to the health sector to help bridge the funding gap.
Jobe further stated that the aid cuts are also likely to affect public budgets and performance in other key sectors, including agriculture and education.
He emphasized that Malawi must now prioritize self-reliance to avoid over-dependence on donor funding.
