The Parliamentary Health Committee has cautioned the Medical Council of Malawi (MCM) over the leniency of punishments the Council issues to its medical practitioners found in conflict with ethics and guidelines.

Speaking during an interface in Lilongwe, the Committee’s Chairperson Matthews Ngwale cited the late Kottana Chindyawonga’s case as an example of how some punishments given to medical practitioners who were involved in the matter received a backlash from the public.

“We told them to jack up, look at issues a little more squarely so having heard from the Committee they have agreed to take all the input we give them back to their Board,” Ngwale said.

According to Ngwale, the Council needs to seriously safeguard its mandate regarding issuance of such punishments to instill public confidence.

He said: “The days when people can just be going without being questioned are gone, today Malawians are asking questions and they want explanations.”

Earlier, the Committee had an audience with late Chindyawonga’s boyfriend Timothy Ntilosanje who also expressed discontent over punishments the Council gave to practitioners involved in the death of the deceased.

“The parliamentary committee should take the medical council to task for being too lenient with the punishments given to Dr. Ruth Chimutu and Dr. Charles Dzamalala. I plead to have their punishments revisited accordingly,” Ntilosanje said.

Whilst acknowledging rising public dissatisfaction over its recent decisions, the Council has maintained that its resolutions are in accordance with the law.

“After thorough analysis at the Board level, it was in the realm of the Board to say we give these individuals warning letters,” said Richard Ndovi, MCM’s assistant registrar.

Ntilosanje also proposed for a review of the supervisory role of the Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) in the purchase, drug inventory management, and audit of use of dangerous medications.