Times Of Swaziland: EVERY DAY IT’S THE SAME THING

EVERY DAY IT’S THE SAME THING
================================================================================
Editor on 20/08/2023 16:43:00


Madam,
Must we discuss the health system every day or we should now be content with the
fact that we do not have a stable one? This is a question I find myself
introspecting on, as I wonder whether there will be any form of relief
health-wise for emaSwati. From people not getting attended to on time at the
biggest referral hospital, to a shortage of healthcare workers which results in
patients not receiving timely assistance; to a shortage in drugs and medical
supplies, it all becomes a little bit too overwhelming. What was previously
regarded as a health crisis developed into a full-blown catastrophe. The
healthcare system in the country is in its final stages before total
annihilation and unfortunately for the population at large this is in no way an
exaggeration.
shortages
From drug shortages, to food issues, to lack of medical supplies and dilapidated
infrastructure, the public health system in the country has clearly seen better
days. At this point, there is no amount of reasoning that could explain the
prevailing health issues in the country and I am afraid it might even take a
miracle to pull us out of the cesspool we are in. I fully understand that the
cause of the failing system might be a shortage in funds but what I would like
to get clarity on is whether there weren’t other options besides the decisions
we took when it came to suppliers and other administrative issues, which may be
influencing our current situation. We also need some level of honesty and
accountability from the executive of the health sector regarding the issues
currently faced by the different public health institutions around the country.
Healthcare is by far the most important sector in any country and has to be
addressed with precision and great attention to detail. Therefore, the current
state shows that there are clearly gaps in the administration of the health
system, something seems amiss. At this point, it is becoming more and more
difficult to praise anything the Health Ministry actually does and looking at
the way things are going, there needs to be repercussions for the disaster that
is our public health system.
conditions
It is also unfair to expect healthcare workers to work under these conditions.
Come to think of it, they are the ones who  get criticised once patients do not
receive the assistance they require and they are the ones who are held liable
when the conditions of the patients deteriorate or the patients succumb to
illnesses due to lack of appropriate medication and supplies.
Healthcare workers in the country are currently working on a wing and prayer and
one can only hope that what is left of the health system will be enough to
sustain us in the long-term.
Speaking of the long-term, it is my hope and prayer that the health executive is
going back to the drawing board and figuring out ways to amend the situation and
get more sustainable solutions going forward. What is happening is not
acceptable and we are literally playing Russian roulette at this point, just
waiting for people to die one by one.