By Mbongeni Ndlela
MBABANE – It is a conundrum that has puzzled the nation: government hospitals across Eswatini remain crippled by persistent drug shortages, yet private pharmacies are seemingly always well-stocked.
This worrying contradiction is raising eyebrows and demands closer scrutiny.
The situation is dire. Just yesterday, members of parliament suggested that the army be roped in to escort medication deliveries to hospitals to ensure that life-saving drugs reach those in need. The crisis is no longer a whispered frustration; it has become a loud outcry, echoing from hospital wards to parliament benches.
In a chilling twist, suspicions are mounting that some of the very officials entrusted to care for the nation’s health are benefitting from this chaos. It is an open secret in the corridors of power that several senior government officials and even nurses own private pharmacies. The question arises: are these shortages purely due to logistical failures, or is there a deliberate siphoning of medication to stock private shelves?
Over the past year, numerous incidents of drug shortages have been reported in government hospitals. Patients at Mbabane Government Hospital have been turned away due to lack of painkillers. In Hlatikhulu, the entire stock of antibiotics ran out in January, leaving patients vulnerable to untreated infections. The situation is no better in rural clinics, where critical drugs like insulin have been out of stock for weeks at a time. In April, the striking nurses at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital cited drug shortages as one of their key concerns, calling the system “broken and unjust.”
Yet, amid this crisis, government has spent over E500 million on procuring medicines in the past year alone.
His Majesty King Mswati III has repeatedly emphasized the need for accountability in the health sector. During his address at the opening of the 2nd session of the 12th parliament, he urged government departments to tackle theft and ensure the health of the nation. The Ministry of Health has assured citizens that they are working to improve procurement systems and accountability, but the reality on the ground remains bleak.
Despite these efforts, whispers of internal theft and corruption persist. Health workers allege that large quantities of government-supplied drugs are quietly diverted from hospital stores and end up on the shelves of private pharmacies — some of which are reportedly owned by government insiders. It is an uncomfortable truth that must be confronted.
This crisis is deeper than the naked eye can see. It is not just a matter of missing pills; it is a symptom of a health system that is failing the very people it is meant to protect. While government’s efforts and His Majesty’s leadership offer hope, it is clear that more must be done to address these shortages.
Citizens are urged to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities. If the nation is to heal, the theft of drugs must be stopped, and those responsible must be held to account.
The health of a nation should never be compromised. It is time to ensure that the sick find healing in our hospitals — not empty shelves.
