Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a non-profit, independent international humanitarian organization committed to delivering medical aid to populations facing crises, with a steadfast commitment to impartiality and without regard to race, religion, creed, or political affiliation. In Malawi, MSF collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health and the local community, particularly in the Cervical Cancer project in the Blantyre and Chiradzulu districts, as well as the CBO Project in Zalewa and Dedza District.

Malawi has the highest cervical cancer incidence (76/100,000) and mortality rate (50/100,000) in the world, representing an estimated 3,684 new cases and 2,314 deaths annually. Eastern and Southern Africa, including Malawi, also has one of the highest HIV prevalence, which contributes significantly to the cancer incidence, as HIV positive women are significantly more likely to develop cervical cancer when infected with HPV. Despite ongoing efforts to provide cancer screening and treatment services by the Ministry of Health and international organizations, care coverage remains low in comparison to the scale of need in the country.

MSF, in response to this need, is implementing a unique comprehensive oncology project in Malawi. The project aims to encompass all components of gynecologic oncology care (mostly cervical cancers) from primary to tertiary prevention through the collaborative work of a multidisciplinary medical team embedded at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) and community health centers in the Blantyre and Chiradzulu districts in Malawi. The general practitioner will work closely with surgeons specialized in gynaecological cancers and gynaecologists.

Responsibilities or duties

• Provide and facilitate outpatient and/or inpatient medical care to patients/beneficiaries according to adapted and updated medical knowledge, MSF protocols, values and universal hygiene standards to improve the patients/beneficiary’s health conditions.
• Apply medical knowledge and skills for diagnosis and prevention. Carry out outpatient and inpatient consultations, prescribing the necessary treatment respecting MSF protocols.
• Keep the patient and/or his/her family informed about the illness and provide appropriate explanations about the treatment to follow, checking they have understood
• Follow up the evolution of the hospitalized/IPD patients, through scheduled visits, consultations and examinations, prescribing the necessary treatment following MSF protocols, deciding whether they can be discharged or transferred to other departments – in collaboration with other doctors- and informing their family about the patient’s evolution.
• Check and control the rational distribution of medicines and equipment under his/her responsibility and take care of the quality, disinfection and sterilization of the medical material. Assure general compliance with standing hygiene standards.
• Participate in the collection and analysis of epidemiological data if needed and inform the line manager about any problem or complication of the patient’s illness, medical error and monitors the proper functioning of the department, equipment or material.
• Ensure ongoing training of the medical/paramedical multidisciplinary team to optimize the quality of care.
• Knows and ensures all MSF medical protocols are followed and implemented, checking universal precautions are always followed and reducing bio-hazard risks and improving infection control. Ensures professional confidentiality is respected.
• Participating in emergencies and on calls if necessary.
• The Medical Officer in this position should take overall responsibility for the care of patients receiving curative and palliative services in hospital or community setting. He/she will provide initial and continuous medical assessments and psychosocial screening for all patients before any treatment pathway.
• Undertake preoperative consultations, evaluating the risks due to comorbidities (patients’ workout, blood investigation, imaging) with the anesthetist and/or other medical staff involved and obtain the patients’ signed consent for each treatment pathway
• Participating in the post-operative clinical care in the daily ward rounds collaborating with the gynecologists, onco-surgeons, anesthetists, the operating theater nurse and nurses at IPD/OPD or other unit managers to ensure compliance with MSF protocols and rational use of medicines
• Perform disclosure clinic at IPD for the post-operative patients and OPD for the patients for any treatment pathway,
• Attend Operation theater procedures when required
• Assure accurate documentation in the Electronic medical record
• Plan, prepare, and prescribe radiology bookings in accordance with medical guidelines (CT scans, MRI scans)
• Prepare and participate as core members of the multidisciplinary team meetings for premalignant and malignant lesions
• Participate in identification, preparation and presentation of any morbidity and mortality cases review
• Perform ablative procedures (including conization, LEEP)
• Participate in SOP drafting and review
• Perform colposcopy procedures (visual and microscopic appearance and differentials for malignant, premalignant, and benign) as needed
• Work in collaboration with the other departments within the hospital if there is any patients who need other specialists’ review or advice (general surgeons, internal medicine, radiologist, oncologist, radiotherapist, histopathologist)
• Participate in the implementation of MSF clinical policies, guidelines and protocols (antibiotic prophylaxis. Post operative pain management, thromboprophylaxis, blood transfusion etc. and recommendations (standard hygiene and sterilization rules, prevention to HIV, TB, Syphilis and Hep B exposure) to minimize clinical risks
• Keep the patient and/or his/her family informed about the illness and provide appropriate explanations about the treatment to follow, checking they have understood. Ensuring that patients’ wishes and desires for their care are respected as much as possible, given the resources available
• Providing surgical, bedside, and in-class (theoretical) training to medical students, interns, residents, clinical officers, nurses, registrars, and other healthcare professionals when needed
• Participate in monthly reports when needed (sitreps, medical statistical reports, etc.)

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Candidate must be a holder of a Medical Doctor Degree. Valid registration with Medical Council of Malawi

Experience needed

A minimum of 2 years’ experience as a Medical Doctor or in clinical practice (including experience gained during medical training) is essential; Desirable MSF experience or other NGOs

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Chichewa essential, Fluent in English is mandatory

Essential computer literacy (Word, Excel and Outlook)

Competencies: Results and Quality orientation, Teamwork and Cooperation, Behavioural Flexibility, Commitment to MSF principles, Stress Management

• Provide and facilitate outpatient and/or inpatient medical care to patients/beneficiaries according to adapted and updated medical knowledge, MSF protocols, values and universal hygiene standards to improve the patients/beneficiary’s health conditions.
• Apply medical knowledge and skills for diagnosis and prevention. Carry out outpatient and inpatient consultations, prescribing the necessary treatment respecting MSF protocols.
• Keep the patient and/or his/her family informed about the illness and provide appropriate explanations about the treatment to follow, checking they have understood
• Follow up the evolution of the hospitalized/IPD patients, through scheduled visits, consultations and examinations, prescribing the necessary treatment following MSF protocols, deciding whether they can be discharged or transferred to other departments – in collaboration with other doctors- and informing their family about the patient’s evolution.
• Check and control the rational distribution of medicines and equipment under his/her responsibility and take care of the quality, disinfection and sterilization of the medical material. Assure general compliance with standing hygiene standards.
• Participate in the collection and analysis of epidemiological data if needed and inform the line manager about any problem or complication of the patient’s illness, medical error and monitors the proper functioning of the department, equipment or material.
• Ensure ongoing training of the medical/paramedical multidisciplinary team to optimize the quality of care.
• Knows and ensures all MSF medical protocols are followed and implemented, checking universal precautions are always followed and reducing bio-hazard risks and improving infection control. Ensures professional confidentiality is respected.
• Participating in emergencies and on calls if necessary.
• The Medical Officer in this position should take overall responsibility for the care of patients receiving curative and palliative services in hospital or community setting. He/she will provide initial and continuous medical assessments and psychosocial screening for all patients before any treatment pathway.
• Undertake preoperative consultations, evaluating the risks due to comorbidities (patients’ workout, blood investigation, imaging) with the anesthetist and/or other medical staff involved and obtain the patients’ signed consent for each treatment pathway
• Participating in the post-operative clinical care in the daily ward rounds collaborating with the gynecologists, onco-surgeons, anesthetists, the operating theater nurse and nurses at IPD/OPD or other unit managers to ensure compliance with MSF protocols and rational use of medicines
• Perform disclosure clinic at IPD for the post-operative patients and OPD for the patients for any treatment pathway,
• Attend Operation theater procedures when required
• Assure accurate documentation in the Electronic medical record
• Plan, prepare, and prescribe radiology bookings in accordance with medical guidelines (CT scans, MRI scans)
• Prepare and participate as core members of the multidisciplinary team meetings for premalignant and malignant lesions
• Participate in identification, preparation and presentation of any morbidity and mortality cases review
• Perform ablative procedures (including conization, LEEP)
• Participate in SOP drafting and review
• Perform colposcopy procedures (visual and microscopic appearance and differentials for malignant, premalignant, and benign) as needed
• Work in collaboration with the other departments within the hospital if there is any patients who need other specialists’ review or advice (general surgeons, internal medicine, radiologist, oncologist, radiotherapist, histopathologist)
• Participate in the implementation of MSF clinical policies, guidelines and protocols (antibiotic prophylaxis. Post operative pain management, thromboprophylaxis, blood transfusion etc. and recommendations (standard hygiene and sterilization rules, prevention to HIV, TB, Syphilis and Hep B exposure) to minimize clinical risks
• Keep the patient and/or his/her family informed about the illness and provide appropriate explanations about the treatment to follow, checking they have understood. Ensuring that patients’ wishes and desires for their care are respected as much as possible, given the resources available
• Providing surgical, bedside, and in-class (theoretical) training to medical students, interns, residents, clinical officers, nurses, registrars, and other healthcare professionals when needed
• Participate in monthly reports when needed (sitreps, medical statistical reports, etc.)

• Computer literacy (Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Chichewa
• English
• Medical knowledge and skills for diagnosis and prevention
• Ability to prescribe necessary treatment respecting MSF protocols
• Communication skills to inform patients and families
• Ability to follow up on patient evolution
• Rational distribution of medicines and equipment
• Collection and analysis of epidemiological data
• Training of medical/paramedical multidisciplinary team
• Adherence to MSF medical protocols and universal precautions
• Professional confidentiality
• Ability to participate in emergencies and on calls
• Medical assessments and psychosocial screening
• Preoperative consultations and risk evaluation
• Post-operative clinical care
• Disclosure clinic at IPD and OPD
• Attendance at Operation theater procedures
• Accurate documentation in Electronic medical record
• Planning, preparation, and prescription of radiology bookings
• Participation in multidisciplinary team meetings
• Identification, preparation, and presentation of morbidity and mortality cases review
• Performance of ablative procedures (including conization, LEEP)
• Participation in SOP drafting and review
• Performance of colposcopy procedures
• Collaboration with other hospital departments
• Implementation of MSF clinical policies, guidelines and protocols
• Respecting patients’ wishes and desires for their care
• Providing training to medical students, interns, residents, clinical officers, nurses, registrars, and other healthcare professionals
• Participation in monthly reports

• Medical Doctor Degree
• Valid registration with Medical Council of Malawi