Africa-Press – Eswatini. The nation has engaged vigorously and robustly on the issue of drug shortages, but sadly, nine months later, there is still no solution at hand.
This reflects badly on the calibre of leadership we have as a country; we need active and decisive leadership. The indecision of those in leadership speaks volumes about the value attached to our public health system. Also, it reflects a leadership commitment, to the less fortunate emaSwati who must rely on the public health system to meet their basic health needs. The affluent who have been accused of being the architects of the disaster and government have been dragging each other in and out of the courts. Sadly they can use the very funds they are accused of fraudulently, acquiring to prolong the court process at further peril of emaSwati.
Nation in peril
This was an issue I had personally hoped the previous administration would have arrested by the time they left office, at least with a contingency plan or emergency purchasing procedure. The news of emergency purchasing modalities put in place by government are encouraging. It is important that we restock our health facilities and get services to our people. This is imperative and the people raised this issue multiple times at Sibaya, therefore, we expect the current administration to address the problem. I must state that I am not at all impressed at the rate at which we are moving to address the issue of drug shortages within the health sector.
Political will
Albeit that it may be too early to expect swift changes from the new administration, however, this is an issue of national importance. We expect the administration to hit the ground running on arresting the stock outs problem. I had anticipated that by now the new Health minister would have already tabled a plan on interim operational procedures on the issue. This ought not be viewed as a tall order considering the minister was a member of the previous Parliament. The absence of a statement of intent from the minister is concerning. Also, I expected the prime minister to be potent on the health crisis. A clear statement of intent would have given the nation confidence on the political will to solve the problem; as it is the nation got a promise with no clear plan of action. This, according to me, speaks to weak political will to address the problem. I implore the new Cabinet to posit the appropriate political will to deliver drugs to our people.
Business unusual
Solving the problem within the 2023/24 budget cycle requires a business unusual approach. Waiting for the 2024/25 budget so we can begin to procure drugs will come at a huge cost to the nation. We cannot put value on life, inaction from the leadership comes at a huge cost to the nation, the loss of life cannot be quantified. We have tried, as economists, to put value on life but there is not a single approach that can put value on life. The business as usual approach cannot be condoned. I know the challenges of working within the government bureaucracy can be slow, but the problem at hand requires setting up a small team to work outside of the system, under supervision of a crisis management committee in Cabinet; Members of Parliament need to be co-opted into the team. This should not be viewed as a way to by-pass the ongoing legal processes and inquests. It is imperative that those responsible for the problem take full responsibility.
Stomping out corruption
The health crisis also brings to light the serious problem of corruption that the country has grappled with for the longest time. I have even contended before that we have normalised corruption as a nation. The slow pace in bringing the culprits to book scares me as a liSwati who is expecting punitive action to be meted on those who have destroyed our health sector. We need serious commitment from the administration that they will indeed arrest the corruption problem. The impending health crisis will give us a good yardstick on the political will to prosecute corruption. It is imperative that the laws of the country can bite the elite in the country. It is sad that the proceeds of corruption are also being used to delay progress on the investigation. The asset forefeiture unit needs to take lead of this issue, emaSwati who are not in the elite have been ‘victims’ of POCA and we are yet to see POCA bite the elite who are literally draining life from emaSwati. There should be equality before the law, all rats must be treated equally, this will cultivate trust between the people and government.
Faith in government
I implore the current administration to work swiftly to gain the people’s trust. The health crisis would be a good starting point to win the approval of the people; adequate stocking of our hospitals is an issue of life and death. It is imperative to posit a decisive and action-based stance on the issue.
Source: times
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