SWADNU, MINISTRY: LAW SHOULD TAKE ITS COURSE

MANZINI – For once, the Ministry of Health and the Swaziland Demcratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), agree.

The pair are in agreement in that the law should take its course subsequent to findings made during a survey, that a nurse, employed in one of the government health facilities, was bringing her own injections to a pharmacy she/he moonlighted at on weekends. Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health Dr Simon Zwane said: “Any government employed pharmacy personnel found to be working in private retail pharmacies without the employer’s approval will be subjected to disciplinary measures.” He said this when sought for comment regarding the findings of the Retail Pharmacy Survey Report. He was asked what the ministry would do next and what would happen to the civil servants, said to be bringing their medications to the pharmacies they moonlighted at. Dr Zwane said: “Yes we will take to task anybody found to be involved in any illegal dealings in as far as stealing of medicines from government facilities to retail pharmacies.”

Illegally

He said all retail or wholesale pharmacy outlets operating illegally would be dealt with in accordance with the law. The PS further explained that Cytotec was not necessarily an abortion drug. He said there were primary indications for which this drug was used and abortion was actually a side effect. Furthermore, the PS appealed to law-abiding citizens to assist the ministry to rid off this scourge, while also thanking the media for helping emaSwati in this matter. On the other hand, Secretary General (SG), of SWADNU Mayibongwe Masangane, said the law should take its course as the union advocated for transparency and accountability in the profession (nursing).

Emphasising

He implored nurses to work within their scope, while also emphasising that they should not delve into the ‘black market’ as it would destroy their profession and their clients who were patients. “Nurses should understand one thing, that stealing from government is as good as robbing yourself because the money comes from you as a taxpayer,” Masangane said. He emphasised that any rot in the health sector reflected badly on the cadre as a whole and those behind any acts deviating from their oath should desist from engaging in same.

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