FIVE-MEMBER COMMITTEE SELECTED TO INVESTIGATE EXODUS OF DOCTORS

LOBAMBA – A five-member committee was yesterday selected by the House of Assembly to investigate the exodus of both foreign and local doctors from the country.

Following a motion moved by appointed Member of Parliament (MP)Princess Ncengencege, the House resolved that the committee be given at least six weeks to produce a report on why such occurred.

motivation

The princess, in motivation, said the committee had to find out why the doctors were leaving and if indeed it was for financial reasons.
“Secondly, I would like the committee to find out why Swazi doctors who have specialised in different fields also leave the country after completing their national duty,” said the princess.
She was supported by Mhlangatane MP Mbalekelwa Ndwandwe.

The princess said she had read in dismay that about 10 doctors had left the country in a space of six weeks and wanted to know why such a situation prevailed and what could be done.
In support of the motion which was raised using Standing Order No.58, Mafutseni MP Christopher Gamedze wanted to know if it was true that the doctors had left because of the recent change in the US Dollar against the Rand or Lilangeni trading.

Hlane MP George Maseko said he was shocked to learn that a majority of Swazi doctors had also moved into private practice in neighbouring countries, trading not even 100 kilometres from the country’s borders.

“Why are these people seeking greener pastures? what is even sadder is that our hospitals are now filled by foreign nationals who sometimes even speak in a language that the local patients do not understand,” said Maseko.

intended

Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo said it was clear that there were indications that the doctors had intended to leave and wanted to know what had been done to address their concerns.
“I am sure that these doctors were on a go slow before they left and it became so bad that some of them were content to give prescriptions over the phone and not bother coming to the hospitals,” said Nxumalo.

He added that either a select committee or government should look into why local specialist doctors left the country, especially since some of them thought that foreign doctors were given special treatment.

The MPs also stated that the motion should also address the issue of the ongoing diarrhoea outbreak with Ngwempisi MP Veli Shongwe highlighting that 20 children per day had allegedly been treated at Musi Clinic.
Manzini North MP Jan Sithole said the committee should also dig as far back as why nurses had previously left the country for greener pastures.

shortage

The MPs claimed that many people were dying daily in hospitals because of the severe shortage of doctors.
“On weekends, for example, why is it that there are never any doctors and one has to rely on nurses who also size you up based on appearance,” said Mahlangatsha MP Bongani Hlophe.

Mbabane West MP Johane Shongwe wanted to know how many other children besides those based on hospital statistics had died because of the outbreak of diarrhoea. He said the country had a serious problem of ignoring (kutsalalisa) issues until it was too late.

Lugongolweni MP Joseph Souza wondered if the exodus of the doctors was caused by the lack of medication in hospitals because even when they tried to do their jobs there was no equipment.

Towards the end of the debate Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo said he wanted to know whether the Mbabane Government Hospital was still a hospital or a morgue as asked by one of his constituents during one of their meetings.

The MPs said they were deeply concerned that the local doctors left for greener pastures, hence the need for the select committee.

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