SOME DOCTORS ATTEND TO PATIENTS DRUNK - SENATOR

MBABANE – Senator Chief Magudvulela has alleged that some doctors attend to patients while under the influence of alcohol.

The senator made this startling allegation during the annual performance report and budget debate for the Ministry of Health last Friday. The senator first lauded the budget that was allocated to Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital (GSCH) in Siteki, in the Lubombo Region.

Decried

He, however, decried the country’s33 per cent mortality rate in the country’s intensive care units (ICUs). The rate proved to be higher than the global 10 to 29 per cent rate. The senator made reference to the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi’s preamble, where she stated that the country’s ICU mortality rate was 33 per cent. He said it was highly impossible for the ministry to perform at its level best under the challenges that engulfed it. The senator said it was devastating to see that a high number of people died at the hands of healthcare givers in the country.

Population

He said the 33 per cent was too much for a population of 1.2 million people. He singled out GSCH, which was once known to be the best healthcare facility in the country. He said the quality of service had dropped drastically in the institution. The senator first highlighted the exodus of medical doctors as a major setback in the healthcare system. He said qualified doctors were leaving the country, while those who remained behind attended to patients while allegedly drunk. “Some doctors are servicing patients while drunk,” he alleged.

Reason

For that reason, he said the mortality rate would remain high. In response, the minister took note of the allegations that were made by the senator. “Unfortunately, it had not been formally reported but the ministry will look closely and investigate the matter,” said the minister. Coming to the exodus of doctors, Nkosi said the high staff turnover was as a result of a change in the pay structure, where on-call allowances were scrapped and replaced with a 24-hour shift system. This was one of the strategies of reducing the wage bill, as it was recommended by the Auditor General’s office.

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