Times Of Swaziland: WHY DRUGS SHORTAGE IF E1.7BN SPENT? – MP

WHY DRUGS SHORTAGE IF E1.7BN SPENT? – MP
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Nonduduzo Kunene on 03/10/2024 08:44:00


BY NONDUDUZO KUNENE
LOBAMBA – Mbabane East Member of Parliament Welcome Dlamini, has enquired why
the country still has an acute shortage of medical drugs and supply if E1.7
billion was spent procuring the items.
The MP posed the question during a debate on the ministerial statement by the
Minister of Health, Mduduzi Matsebula, delivered last Thursday. The statement
provided the progress made by the ministry in the last 10 months to strengthen
the crumbling health system. During the debate, the MP noted the minister in his
statement stated that E1.7 billion had been used on procurement. Dlamini said
there was still a shortage of medical drugs and supplies and wondered how that
was. He also highlighted that the minister, in his statement, asked for a
bailout from government.
MP Dlamini wanted to know what the bailout was for. Lamgabhi MP Sicelo Jele also
echoed the MP’s statement on the drugs shortage and said people travel long
distances to hospitals, only to find that there is no medication. Hhukwini MP
Alec Lushaba said he was curious about whether the health budget was released by
the government. He said it had been found that the budget hardly reached some
ministries, which might be the case in the health sector. “Are you asking for
money that was not released or an additional budget?” he asked. In response,
the minister said the issue of drugs was topical.
Debts
Matsebula highlighted a number of things that were a hindrance to the
availability of medical drugs. He said another chunk of the money went to pay
previous debts. Another challenge the minister raised was poor controls within
the distribution channels. He also lamented poor delivery by suppliers and not
paying them on time, which resulted in the blacklisting of some. He stated that
they would appreciate an E131 million bailout for the Ministry of Health.
Matsebula said suppliers who blacklisted government were slowly again accepting
government, as it was paying its debts.