By Mbongeni Ndlela
LOBAMBA – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has unveiled five key challenges at the heart of the country’s health crisis, and introduced strong corrective measures to turn the tide.
Presenting a comprehensive report to Parliament in response to Motion 7/2025, the PM identified the five critical causes behind the persistent shortages of medical supplies in Eswatini’s health facilities. These are:
- Governance and oversight limitation
- Inconsistent budgeting and underfunding of medicines
- Inadequate system for supply planning and forecasting of needs
- Cumbersome and parallel procurement systems and processes
- Human resource gaps in supply chain management
The PM emphasized that while these issues have eroded public trust and endangered lives, they also present an opportunity to rebuild a stronger, more responsive health system.
“The lives of our citizens depend on the choices we make here,” Dlamini declared. “I call on this august House to support the ministry’s request for adequate and timely funding, and to demand accountability from all actors in the supply chain.”
Swift Reforms and Immediate Solutions
To restore efficiency, the Prime Minister announced the appointment of a new Central Medical Stores (CMS) management team within two weeks. This interim team will ensure the continuity of operations pending the full establishment of a state-owned entity designed to streamline procurement and distribution.
The procurement of life-saving medicines will also now be handled jointly with NERCHA, supported by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), to reduce lead times and enhance emergency supply capacity.
Additionally, a technical taskforce of five procurement and supply chain experts will oversee the new processes and guarantee consistent availability of essential medical supplies.
Embracing Technology and Transparency
To modernize tracking and logistics, the PM announced the immediate rollout of the electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS) to all health facilities within three months. This system will enable real-time monitoring of drug consumption and stock levels.
A dedicated digital inventory management system will also be deployed by year-end, and an electronic security system will ensure safe distribution and prevent theft or diversion of supplies.
Human Resource Boost and Structural Overhaul
In a significant boost to health sector capacity, the government has resumed the recruitment of 453 staff members, including pharmacists and supply chain officers. These roles are pivotal in addressing bottlenecks and ensuring smooth service delivery at facility level.
The ministry is also restructuring management and reporting systems to align better with actual health facility needs, addressing previous inefficiencies caused by parallel processes.
A New Era of Health Accountability
The Premier expressed that the revamp of procurement laws, better budgeting, and stricter accountability across the supply chain are now non-negotiable. Procurement plans will be aligned with accurate treatment protocols and up-to-date Essential Medicines Lists (EML).
While acknowledging the pain caused by past failures, the PM said Eswatini now has a renewed opportunity to build “a health system where no life would be lost due to the unavailability of drugs.”
“No patient should ever be turned away because the medicine they need is not available,” he stated with conviction.
Parliament Responds Positively
Speaker of the House Jabulani Mabuza praised the PM’s detailed response and called on members of Parliament to resume debate to adopt the report’s recommendations.
As the nation moves forward, this bold intervention sets the tone for a new chapter in healthcare—grounded in accountability, transparency, and renewed hope for every Liswati.
(Courtesy Pics)
