FUNDUZI, THE DRUGS, THE PEOPLE

The nation has been waiting patiently for a resolution of the drug problems faced by our public health system. It has been quite some moons since the problems emerged, however it would seem that there is no solution in sight. The days have turned into weeks, months and now almost a year since the problem started. I have written about this in the past, and I must reiterate, is it too much to give our people life? Can we just have a full complement of drugs in our public health system? Instead what we have seen is PR moves from government, purporting that facilities are now adequately stocked. However, anecdotes coming out in the media and from what one experiences in the public health system, the situation still remains dire.

Public relations

Albeit the importance of PR to any governing entity, there however is a thin line between propaganda and PR. I think it is about time that the PR office in the public service checks the facts first before paddling out a statement which will be grossly out of touch with the realities of our people. This I find to be antagonising and threatening to the stability of the nation.
The health crisis has sawn, and further entrenched apparent inequalities in our society, one would term this the health divide. Access to healthcare has since been the sole preserve of those in the middle class who can afford private service providers. This is a sad observation considering that approximately 58 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. The lack of services within the public health system will push even more of our people below the poverty line.

Economic burden

Health expenditures force households and consumers to make life and death consumption expenditure choices. Furthermore, a unique quality of health expenditures is the fact that expenditure in health atimes becomes a need rather than one option that one can make a choice, whether to consume or forego. Also, evidence on the ground shows that expenditure in health can have catastrophic impacts on household income and consumption choices. Put simply health is expensive and the lack of medication within our public healthcare system places undue economic pressure or economic burden on our people.

Consider a situation where a bread winner in a family that was just barely able to survive above the poverty line falls ill, the family will likely invest a lot in the breadwinner’s healthcare to ensure they are able to provide. Effectively pushing the family below the poverty line. I therefore, call on government to stop with this false PR and get to the business of providing drugs and sufficient services to our people. The public healthcare system is largely tax funded and the tax payers should get value for money, that is a principle of a good tax.

Funduzi

Getting down to business means taking the Funduzi report and implementing it. I must say, it is really sad to observe the circus that is now brewing around the report. This, in my opinion, is yet another stark divide that exists within our society and economy. The corrupt who are well connected can actually use the media and the courts to delay the process with impunity. The one per cent are making choices for the 90 per cent, essentially deciding their fate. The health of the nation is being held at ransom by powerful people, who still pursue their rent seeking tendencies at the peril of our people. Can we just have a government that will care about the plight of our people. Also, can we have a government that is serious about tackling the problems of corruption.

Answer me this, have we ever as a country prosecuted a person charge with serious corruption and extracting undue rents from our public coffers? I think we are yet to see that happen. How do we, in good conscience move on as a nation when billions have been paid for undelivered drugs? Why have we not taken concrete steps in addressing the problem? I am not agitating for Funduzi’s clemency if they are in the wrong, they must also face the law. However, swift action must be taken to hold rent-seekers accountable. We need to be serious about corruption as a country and we need a government that will put our people first.

People first

I call on the Minister for Health and the Minister for Finance to ensure that there are drugs in our hospitals. The inquiries can continue in parallel while hospitals have been stocked and our people have access to drugs. Furthermore, I call on the Justice minister to ensure that the law takes its course. We cannot in good conscience allow a few individuals to suck the life out of our people, something must be done.We all heard the directive from the throne. I call on the government to make haste and deliver to our people and for our people. Stock the facilities, prosecute those in the wrong and thrive for efficiency within the health system and throughout the government machinery.

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