MBABANE – In 2023, His Majesty King Mswati III expressed concern that the country was reportedly faced with persistent drug shortages, despite billions of Emalangeni being allocated to the Ministry of Health.
The King made these remarks during his national address at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence cattle byre. His concerns appear particularly relevant when one examines the latest Drugs Trading Account for the financial year ended March 31, 2025, which reveals that the country does, in fact, have significant drug stock available at the Central Medical Stores (CMS).
According to the account, which was tabled before Parliament for scrutiny, the Ministry of Health recorded a total of E183.8 million from the sale of drugs and related receipts during the reporting period.
At the beginning of the financial year, the ministry held an opening stock valued at E160 040 851.18. During the year, additional purchases amounting to E261 223 931.65 were made, bringing the total value of available stock to E421 264 782.83.
From this total, drugs valued at E183 615 195 were distributed or sold under government’s health programmes and cash sales amounted to E250 924.07, giving total receipts of E183 866 119.07.
At the end of the financial year, there were still drugs worth E237 398 663.76 in stock. This represents the closing stock, which becomes the starting point or opening stock for the following year.
The figures show that all receipts and expenditures balanced at E183 866 119.07, reflecting sound record-keeping for the trading period.
The report, titled Statement of Receipts and Payments ( Appendix III), provides a detailed summary of how government health facilities handled the purchase and sale of medicines over the financial year.
A Drugs Trading Account is a financial statement that shows how much money was spent on buying medicines and how much was earned from selling them to health facilities or the public. It helps government and the public understand whether the nation’s drug stores are being managed efficiently.
The Ministry of Health is expected to brief Parliament, particularly the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the Drugs Trading Account.
The Times SUNDAY reported sometime ago that before the Eswatini Government cancelled its agreement with Healthshare Health Solutions (Pty) Ltd, the agent previously used to access specialised treatment in South Africa through the Phalala Medical Referral Fund, the Ministry of Health was charged E58 000 per patient for a 14-day dosage of a cancer drug.
If all 1 074 new cancer cases reported by then had required the same dosage, the ministry would have needed approximately E62.2 million (E62 292 000) to cover the 14-day treatment for that group of patients.
However, according to the Ministry of Health, government managed to cut the cost per dosage to E24 000 per patient after gaining direct access to specialists and bypassing the intermediary agent.
The ministry said the cancer drug in question was Gleevac 400mg, which adult patients take twice a day for two weeks.
Under the current procurement arrangement, the 400mg tablet would cost about E870 in South Africa, leading to the reduced cost of E24 000 per patient per dosage.
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