Medical

MBABANE – Is Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala’s refusal to issue a warrant of arrest for certain individuals justified? Is he vindicated?

If the documented evidence before our news desk is anything to go by, the audit findings sometimes leave a lot to be desired or rather require intense investigations before arrests are to be considered.

Documents seen by this newspaper reveal that drugs reported in the auditor general (AG)’s report as not delivered by Swazipharm at Central Medical Stores (CMS) are traceable from Mbabane Government Hospital where they were supplied.

Let us consider a case of  Order No. EG23102420, with drugs marked micron 10 filter and micron 20 filter; these drugs, based on the AG’s report were not delivered at CMS and this is technically true – they were not as a matter of fact.

However, the same flagged drugs are shown in a delivery note to have been received on November 17, 2021 by the Pharmacist Department at Lubombo Referral Hospital through customer Order No. LRH 009/2021. On the basis of procedure, it has been established that Intensive Care Units (ICUs) sourced drugs directly from the suppliers. In turn, it is said the suppliers would deliver directly to the health facilities such as –

• Mbabane Government Hospital.
• Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFM).
• Mankayane Government Hospital.
• Hlatikhulu Government Hospital.
• Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital.      

It is understood the Customer Order No is a requisition that enables the supplier to procure the drugs and health supplies. The accounts office, for payment purposes, would then translate the requisition to an order starting with EG. 

Those who are familiar with such transactions explained that the Order No starting with EG, which the AG scrutinised, is generally meant to enable the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to pay the supplier.

It is vital to look into another case where the AG’s report mentioned that the following medical supplies were not delivered –

• Kerra contract ag.
• Kerra foam simple BDR AWL 1200
• Kerra foam BDR CWL 1200
• Kerra foam simple BDR 1203.

The four above-mentioned medical supplies were valued at E421 969. They were part of the whole consignment priced at E33 996 894.49, which the AG’s Office reported that Swazipharm did not deliver.

Were these medical supplies not delivered at CMS? Of course, based on the documents, they were not delivered at CMS, but tax invoices and delivery notes indicate that these medical supplies were actually received by the Mbabane Government Hospital through invoice number SWAPINV3074 and customer invoice number MGH 027/2022. According to the papers, they were received on June 1, 2022.

In his report on the acquisition and distribution of medicines to public health facilities, the AG had submitted a query: “I reported that E33 996 894.49 worth of medical supplies extracted from several payment vouchers (PVs) were not delivered at the Central Medical Stores.”

Further reads: “Upon reconciling financial records maintained by the accountant general with transactions processed by the Central Medical Stores (CMS), these supplies were found lacking matching goods received notes (GRNs). The following table is a list of undelivered medical supplies.”

There are other pharmaceuticals valued at E66 670.00, reportedly undelivered as per the AG’s report, which were received by the RFM Hospital in Manzini on June 30, 2022.

For this consignment, the customer order number is RFM016/22.    There is also an order for Mbabane Government Hospital ICU and Renal Department dated November 15, 2021, warranting Swazipharm to procure health supplies valued at E479 605.

The ICU and Renal Department placed an order for vancomycin injection 40mg/5ml and lactulose syrup 10g, adalat XL tablets, cellcept tablets, omeprazole injection 40mg/5ml and others. According to the AG’s report, all of these drugs were not delivered at CMS.

The Times of Eswatini has scrutinised orders, invoices and delivery notes for this procurement.

It is reflected in these papers that Mbabane Government Hospital’s representative received the health supplies on December 8, 2021 through a vehicle registered WSD 737 BH.

Notably now, there are tax invoices stamped by the CMS and delivery notes for the consignment of health supplies reported undelivered by the AG.

Full article available in our publication.

Despite that the health supplies are reported to have not been delivered by Swazipharm, this delivery note bears a stamp from Central Medical Stores confirming receipt of the drugs.