‘CABAL’ WANTS TO TAKE OVER LUKE COMMISSION

MBABANE – Sell it to us!

As The Luke Commission (TLC) pushes to forge a meaningful partnership with government, it has been uncovered that there are clandestine moves by certain high profile individuals to take over the facility. As if they are taking advantage of the TLC’s vulnerable nature due to financial challenges and uncertainty in agreeing to a proper model to secure government funding, the individuals are said to be instilling fear to the directors by threatening them.

Pursuit

According to sources close to the matter, some family members of the directors have left the country temporarily in pursuit of other global opportunities. However, it has been reported that they have not given up hope about the country and will return soon to resume operations in the hospital. “The directors and family love emaSwati and are fighting to keep the hospital open and help the throngs that flock TLC for their various ailments,” said the source, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the institution.

Reliable sources have confided that the high profile individuals have on numerous occasions approached the management of TLC to force them to sell the millions-worth facility to them. Some of the individuals, it has been reported, have gone as far as using the name of the powers that be as they push their clandestine moves to take away the facility from its current directors.

Expensive

The high profile individuals are known to this publication but their names cannot be published as their communication with the facility’s directors was not in black and white, with the newspaper unable to get, at least, audios to substantiate the assertions. Some of them are said to have demanded that if it is not the whole facility that they get, they must at least take over the expensive equipment the TLC has invested in for years.

TLC, known as the Miracle Campus because of the unique service of treating complicated ailments at no cost, remains closed, mainly because of lack of funding, following the suspension of aid by the United States of America Government and Eswatini Government delay in releasing funds to the institution.

It should be noted that during the COVID-19 era, TLC invested in expensive equipment, including a first-of-its kind oxygen plant worth E70 million, which saved the lives of hundreds of emaSwati. This is the same plant that discarded the oxygen dependence from neighbouring South Africa, which was the first-of-its-kind in the country.

It is stated on the TLC website that the facility’s pressure swing absorption (PSA) oxygen plant supports up to 2 500 litres per minute of medical grade oxygen and has the capacity to fill 285 cylinders per day for distribution throughout the Kingdom of Eswatini.

TLC also acquired a fleet of drones, which have become ideal for in rapid drug delivery to healthcare centres in remote areas around the country. Luvelo is the digital ecosystem. The drone network is the Nkwe Drone Network. It is a world-class logistics and value chain management system powered by cutting-edge technology.

Collaboration

TLC management explained that Luvelo ensures reliable access to resources and remains open to further collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to explore national integration, redefining healthcare delivery in Eswatini. Investigations by this newspaper have revealed that the threats have not been limited to the directors and their family.

It has been gathered that so serious is the matter that some members of the management have in recent days been receiving threats and spending sleepless nights. The threats, it was gathered, came about after the directors stood their ground and refused to give in to the demand to have their facility sold.The nature of the threats cannot be published to ensure safety of the management and their families.

Meanwhile, due to the financial challenges, TLC recently announced that it had taken an unprecedented decision to close its doors due to a critical funding crisis and overwhelming patient demand. Our sister publication, the Times of Eswatini, reported how the closure leaves hundreds without access to essential medical care. The closure, it was reported, was triggered by the depletion of crucial relief funds, including a short-term E30 million government injection in 2024, which proved insufficient to sustain services long-term.

Cornerstone

The management of the facility relayed that many patients were turned away both physically and via the TLC hotline. TLC has been a cornerstone of Eswatini’s healthcare system. In 2023, it recorded over 300 000 outpatient visits and 22 000 inpatient nights. It was highlighted that from February 15, 2025, TLC will cease several outpatient services for patients aged 50 and over, and most inpatient services. 

Early last year, following Parliament intervention, government provided TLC with approximately E30 million in relief, temporarily funding prioritised programmes, including outpatient care for the elderly and inpatient care for all age groups. Despite maximising these funds, the resources were depleted some time ago, necessitating the pausing of unfunded services once more.

Currently, there are ongoing discussions between TLC and government regarding a model that will suit both parties. TLC has also said that relying on a subvention from government to fund some its operations cannot work as it has limitations. This is contained in a concept note for a proposed public-private partnership (PPP) between the facility and the Ministry of Health.

In the concept note, TLC highlighted that the subvention model, where government provides financial support in exchange for oversight and control, has notable limitations. TLC also mentioned that the subvention approach often discourages innovation and performance-based outcomes. It said rather than supporting organisations with operational efficiency, subvention models typically add layers of administration, which slows progress, reduces efficiency, and lowers the quality of care.

Meanwhile, during a press conference before the budget speech, Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg said government will continue to fund the TLC, albeit in the short-term. Parliament has approved E20 million for the institution which is contained in government’s supplementary budget. These funds will be availed to the TLC shortly and the funding is believed to be enough to have the facility reopened for now.

The minister said going forward, the Ministry of Health will have to work and finalise a comprehensive work plan together with directors of the TLC.  “Among the options is a public private partnership (PPP). We do not want to create another government-subvented entity.” He also said another option was to work-out a plan with the entity such that it used the Phalala Fund to manage the facility.

Established in 2005, TLC has grown into a pivotal healthcare provider in the country, addressing critical health challenges through a combination of inpatient, outpatient, critical care, casualty, surgical care and outreach services, including specialty surgical care.

TLC’s mission is to deliver compassionate, comprehensive healthcare to the most isolated and underserved populations, in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, local communities, corporate and non-profit partners.

Comprehensive

The organisation’s vision is to end the isolation of underserved communities to quality healthcare. As TLC has innovated and evolved to deliver high quality comprehensive health services, patient volume has grown to over 1 000 patients daily, increasingly stretching its financial and operational resources.

TLC’s previous funding model, heavily reliant on external donors, has been described as not sustainable given the scale of patients increasingly seeking comprehensive healthcare. TLC’s financial strain is exacerbated by its national role in receiving referrals from all over the country when medications, commodities or expertise otherwise inhibit other facilities from providing services.

Police were not called to react to the threats because the directors and family members have not yet reported them to the law enforcers. However, police, oftentimes, urge people receiving threats of any kind to report them to the police.

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