HEALTH CRISIS: MINISTER MAKES SHOCK DISCOVERY

MBABANE – The Minister of Health, Mduduzi Matsebula, says he will devote himself to interventions that will save lives amid the crisis affecting the delivery of healthcare.

“The people are dying,” the minister said when outlining the priority areas he would attend to in his initial days in office. Matsebula, who is one of 19 Cabinet ministers announced by the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini, inherits a ministry in shambles, with the shortage of drugs and medical supplies; corruption allegations, exodus of medical staff, a mountain of debts and a generally demotivated workforce.   

Problems

The monumental problems of the ministry are well documented in the Auditor General’s (AG) Report for the year ending 2022, where it was found that funds worth millions of Emalangeni had been unaccounted for, and drugs were purchased, but not delivered. Matsebula said he had arranged a meeting with the Executive Committee (EXCO) of his ministry, where he would ask questions on what led to the current state of the health sector.

He said all along, he had been informed about the state of the disintegrating health sector, but the preliminary report he got from the Principal Secretary (PS), Khanya Mabuza, left him stunned and thunderstruck about the deep-seated problems of the ministry. “What I found out was more horrifying than what I already knew. How did we get here? EmaSwati are dying out there,” he said. The minister said he would ask his officials to work on short and long-term solutions to stabilise the health sector.

“We have to address these issues head-on. From Friday to Monday, we will be doing consultations with the EXCO. I also want to visit all the health facilities to get first-hand information on the crisis affecting service delivery. I want to reach out even to the facilities in remote areas” he said. He named hospitals such as the Mbabane Government Hospital, Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, as well as clinics and health centres, such as Mkhuzweni, Sigangeni, Dvokolwako, among those that he would visit.

Minister Matsebula said his three main areas of interest, when seeking a solution to the ailing healthcare sector, would be issues of drug shortages, supply chain management systems and human resources. He said he would also look closely into the budgetary issues around public healthcare sector. “We have to work collaboratively with other ministries to stabilise the health sector. We also need the support of all emaSwati to show us where the loopholes are and offer possible solutions,” the minister said.

The PS in the ministry, Mabuza also concurred that there was a need to apply speed when attending to the health crisis. He said it was better to save lives first. This preliminary investigation led to Funduzi Forensic Services being recruited through the Eswatini Government Tender Board.

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