Authorities in Dedza, central Malawi, have confirmed that over 50% of patients benefiting from the district hospital are Mozambicans, a development they say is piling pressure on the facility that already experiences drug shortages.

Mr. Harold Kabuluzi, spokesperson for Dedza hospital told the media that government provides resources at the hospital basing on the population of Dedza therefore the coming in of the Mozambicans is complicating things.

Mr. Kabuluzi said most Mozambicans come to the hospital especially to seek services maternity, dental and x-ray.

“We experience drug shortages, lack of accommodation and food but we cannot turn them away because we follow the available policy that we must help them as well,” said Kabuluzi.

However, if there was a directive to deny the Mozambicans access it would be difficult to monitor because Malawians do not have National Identity Cards.

Recently the Malawi government publicly announced that it was engaging the governments of Zambia and Mozambique to start contributing something considering that most of their citizens access treatment in Malawi, especially in border districts.