Court Blocks Nurse Deployment Over License Fraud in Malawi

Malawi’s High Court has issued an interim injunction suspending the deployment of newly recruited nurses, following allegations that many of the selected individuals lack proper qualifications and licenses to practice.

The injunction was secured by a group of at least 500 unemployed nurses, who argued that the Ministry of Health’s recent recruitment process was flawed and discriminatory.

According to court documents, the aggrieved nurses claim that several of the newly hired candidates were either unqualified or unlicensed, while many competent and certified nurses were left out of the selection process.

The ruling comes just days after the Ministry of Health ordered newly hired candidates to report to duty on July 1, 2025.

However, under the terms of the injunction dated June 30, they are now required to remain on standby until the matter is resolved in court.

In a parallel legal move, a judicial review application was filed on behalf of 497 other qualified, yet unemployed nurses, seeking to challenge the entire recruitment exercise.

The legal challenge focuses on three key nursing categories:

1. Nursing Officer
2. Nurse Midwife Technician
3. Community Midwife Assistant

The High Court has not only granted permission for the judicial review but also ordered an expedited hearing, which will be presided over by a single judge in the coming days.

The case has sparked national debate over transparency in public sector recruitment, particularly in a country facing ongoing healthcare challenges and staff shortages.

Critics say the Ministry’s recruitment process may have been politically influenced or lacked proper vetting, while civil society groups are calling for a comprehensive audit of hiring procedures across Malawi’s health sector.

The Ministry of Health has yet to respond officially to the court’s ruling or the allegations of malpractice.

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