Lobamba– The Ministry of Health came under fresh political pressure on Monday after the portfolio committee questioned why government continues to inject E50 million annually into the Luke Commission despite complaints over high medical fees and allegations that the institution has failed to meet the objectives attached to the bailout.
Contributing to the Ministry of Health First Quarter Performance Report Debate, Mhlume MP Sifiso Magagula argued that taxpayers were not receiving value for money from the sizeable public investment, saying patients continued to face charges comparable to those at private hospitals.
“We gave the Luke Commission a subvention of E50 million, yet the public is subjected to costly services. We have invested a lot of money there. Why are we giving them E50 million? the MP asked.
Magagula went further, urging government to reconsider the arrangement if the mission hospital intended to continue operating on what he described as a commercial footing.
“If patients are paying almost what they would pay at a private hospital, then government should review the subvention. It might as well become a private hospital,” submitted.
The MP claimed that the E50 million bailout was initially intended to support a restructuring process, including staff retrenchments aimed at restoring the institution’s financial sustainability.
However, the legislator alleged that the intended retrenchment programme had never materialized. Instead, he said, employees continued to lose their jobs through dismissals while the institution remained dependent on government funding.
Adding to Magagula’s sentiments, Matsanjeni South MP also questioned whether elderly patients were benefiting from the subsidy as intended.
“I went there myself and paid a lot of money. I asked myself what the subvention was for if we are paying this much. The idea was that the elderly would receive better care because of the government’s support,” the MP said.
Ndlangamandla further alleged that patients were being charged as much as E3,900 per night in admission fees, while other treatment costs remained beyond the reach of many emaSwati.
Citing Section 25 of the Public Finance Management Act, the MP said all funds appropriated by Parliament must deliver value for money and directly benefit the public.
He also noted that government support extends beyond the annual cash subvention, saying the Luke Commission also receives medicines through the Central Medical Stores, effectively increasing the value of public assistance.
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