Lobamba – Eight companies supplying medical drugs and equipment to government have been accused of repeatedly failing to deliver full orders, worsening drug shortages in Eswatini’s public health facilities.
Auditor General Timothy Matsebula reported that some suppliers delivered only a fraction of what was ordered and took months, sometimes over a year, beyond the agreed timelines. One order of 30 000 amoxycillin tablets saw only 1 500 delivered, while a contract for 12 000 gauze rolls resulted in just 100 being supplied.
Suppliers named include Swazi Pharm, ASD Medical, Pharm Industry, Artemis Pharmaceuticals, KZM Investments, MacLeods Pharmaceuticals, E Medical, and MSk Medicals. Contracts required deliveries within 45 days, but some companies took up to 17 months to fulfill them.
Ministry of Health Procurement Specialist Lovemore Magagula said suppliers often claimed they had the capacity but failed to meet expectations. MPs Bhekibandla Vilakati and Sandile Nxumalo questioned why the Ministry continued doing business with these companies despite previous warnings and forensic audit findings.
Magagula explained that the limited pool of registered medical suppliers left the Ministry with few alternatives. Legal Officer Behlule Ndlela added that procurement officials sometimes bypassed his office, creating contractual gaps. He noted that the Procurement Act of 2011 allows remedies against companies that breach contracts.
The Public Accounts Committee has urged stronger action against suppliers who fail to deliver, warning that such negligence affects citizens’ access to essential healthcare.
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