MCM phasing out medical assistants training in Malawi
The Medical Council of Malawi (MCM) has announced the phasing out of Medical Assistants (MAs) training in a bid to improve service quality at the primary level of healthcare.
According to an official statement from the council, 2025 will be the final year for admitting students into the Medical Assistants program, with no new enrolments allowed from 2026 onwards.
The statement notes that while Medical Assistants have historically formed the backbone of service delivery at the primary healthcare level, the medical and clinical training landscape in Malawi has evolved significantly.
“Today, we have a broader and more advanced cadre of healthcare providers. Moreover, evidence indicates that health centres achieve better patient outcomes and more efficient use of medical resources when led and staffed by Clinical Officers (COs) and Medical Doctors (MDs),” reads part of the statement.
It further highlights that continuing to train Medical Assistants diverts critical resources away from building a more competent and sustainable clinical workforce for primary healthcare.
According to the council, this has resulted in rural and underserved communities continuing to receive suboptimal care, ultimately undermining Malawi’s long-term healthcare objectives.
In the meantime, the council is encouraging universities and colleges to prioritize upgrading the existing pool of Medical Assistants to higher cadres.
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