Students to Pay Up to K20,000 Weekly for Placements at QECH

Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) has introduced bench fees for students undertaking practical attachments and council registration placements at the facility, citing growing pressure on hospital resources.

Speaking to Zodiak on Sunday, QECH Director General Patrick Dongosolo Kamalo said the increasing number of students seeking practical training at Malawi’s largest tertiary referral hospital has significantly strained available resources.

Kamalo explained that while training healthcare professionals remains one of the hospital’s core mandates, the rising student population has increased demand for resources such as personal protective equipment (PPE), utilities and supervisory services.

Under the new arrangement, training institutions sending students to QECH for practical placements will be required to provide essential resources for their students. In addition, students will pay weekly bench fees ranging from K2,000 to K20,000, depending on the programme. The fees will also apply to individuals undertaking Medical Council orientation placements.

International elective students, as well as doctors and nurses seeking registration with the Medical Council of Malawi, will be required to pay US$520 per week.

Kamalo said the measure is aimed at helping the hospital sustain its training role while managing the growing demand for practical learning opportunities.