By Mbono Mdluli
MBABANE – Elderly citizens in Eswatini will still have access to essential medical services, as these will now be offered at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Manzini and Mbabane Government Hospital.
These services were previously provided by The Luke Commission (TLC), based in Sidvokodvo.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo announced this development today, January 23, 2025.
He was responding to TLC’s decision to halt some of its free medical services for elderly individuals. This change, which takes effect on February 15, 2025, is reportedly due to the depletion of E30 million in funding that the government had provided to TLC.
Speaking on Eswatini TV’s Kusile Breakfast Show this morning, Nxumalo expressed surprise at TLC’s decision.
“Government was not informed of such a decision and only became aware of it through media reports,” he said.
He further noted that attempts to reach TLC for clarification had been unsuccessful. Nxumalo emphasized that the financial assistance extended to TLC was meant to support its services, not to create a dependency on government funding.
“We believed that the E30 million we provided would help sustain TLC while it secured alternative funding,” Nxumalo explained. He also disclosed that the Ministry of Health had recently held discussions with TLC to assess its financial requirements, but TLC had yet to respond to the ministry’s inquiries.
The government spokesperson highlighted the importance of accountability in the use of public funds. He referred to agreements the government has with religious organizations managing institutions like RFM and Good Shepherd Hospital, where government subventions are closely monitored.
“We cannot allow taxpayers’ money to be used without clear agreements on how it will be spent,” Nxumalo stated.
He assured Emaswati that the government remains committed to collaborating with TLC but stressed the need for renewed negotiations to establish accountability measures. “TLC must return to the negotiating table so we can reach an agreement on the monitoring and use of public funds,” he said.
The government’s swift action to redirect these services to RFM and Mbabane Government Hospital ensures that elderly citizens will not lose access to critical healthcare. This move underscores the administration’s commitment to providing consistent medical support for all Emaswati.
