Africa-Press – Lesotho. Media statement Netcare commences handover of the Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital and primary care clinics to the Government of Lesotho Decision to scale down services brought forward following repeated failure by the Government to settle arrear payments
Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Netcare has started a process of handing over operations at the Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH) and its four primary care clinics in Maseru to the Government of Lesotho (GoL).
This is as a result of the public private partnership (PPP) agreement being prematurely terminated, with effect from 31 August 2021. The handover has been brought forward, however, following
the ongoing non-payment of fees due to Tšepong by the GoL. The Tšepong consortium is the principal contractor in the PPP agreement and Netcare has been sub-contracted to manage Tšepong, providing all clinical services required
to operate the hospital and the primary care clinics on behalf of the consortium. The decision to commence the handover of the facilities and operations follows the repeated
failure by the GoL to settle the arrear payments for services rendered by Tšepong. The GoL has been persistent in demanding that Netcare, as the sub-contractor, continue to provide full services until 31 August 2021,
notwithstanding that it is currently four months in arrears and is now into the fifth month of unpaid contractual monthly fees. In its capacity as a shareholder of Tšepong, and as the major provider of services to Tšepong,
Netcare has continued to act in good faith and provided ample written notice to Tšepong and the GoL, as well as follow-up reminders that GoL is substantially
in default of its payment obligations under the PPP agreement. The GoL has repeatedly reiterated that it has no intention of making these scheduled, contractual payments at this stage, and will only consider making payment after
the PPP termination date of 31 August 2021. In light of these circumstances, Netcare is no longer prepared to fund ongoing operations on behalf of the PPP.
Netcare has provided financial support on numerous occasions over recent years to enable continued operations at the hospital and primary care clinics when the GoL failed to make
timely payment for services. The refusal by the GoL to pay the outstanding fees clearly places an unreasonable expectation on suppliers to continue providing
full services at a substantial level of commercial risk to their businesses. At a meeting on 9 July 2021, the GoL agreed to Netcare’s proposal to establish a joint oversight
committee to ensure the effective and orderly verification and transfer of properties and equipment, stocktaking and handover, as well as the transfer of
employees and sub-contractors to the GoL. Netcare will ensure that the transfer process is managed with the support of the labour unions and external in-country lawyers to protect the interests of employees and sub-contractor
staff through a seamless transition. A draft handover agreement, based on the provisions contained in the existing PPP agreement, has been presented by Netcare to the GoL and the Board of Tšepong.
Netcare and the GoL furthermore agreed that the transfer of assets, equipment and stock will be overseen by an independent external auditor. Recent reports in
the media and on social media that Netcare had withdrawn from QMMH and the primary care clinics last week are factually incorrect and intended to mislead.
There are also spurious allegations that Netcare has removed assets from the hospital, which belong to the PPP. These assertions are inaccurate. Only property belonging to Netcare, and which is not involved in providing patient
care, has been removed. Both the hospital and the clinics remain fully functional and adequately resourced to continue providing quality healthcare to
patients. At the meeting called by the GoL on 13 July 2021, the GoL reiterated its refusal to settle the outstanding fees at this stage and instead stated that it will assemble a team
on 14 July 2021 to start the handover process and would assume all liabilities, including the payment of salaries to employees. In terms of the PPP agreement, Netcare, as the sub-contractor, is entitled to suspend its
services due to a material default by the GoL, which in this case was triggered by the persistent lack of payment. However, because Netcare values and upholds
the sanctity of life and would never do anything to impinge on patient safety and care, the hospital will continue to treat all inpatients during the transitional period until it is deemed clinically appropriate and safe to
discharge them. The hospital will accept all urgent cases and emergencies, including obstetric emergencies, and outpatient services will remain available
for any unstable patients. All other patients will be referred to GoL clinics and facilities. Netcare CEO, Dr Richard Friedland, commented, “We have made it clear to all stakeholders that
we remain resolute that the safety and care of patients will not be compromised. We are proud that we have consistently scored above 95% in the key assessments and performance indicators as measured by the Independent Monitor.
These standards of service delivery have been maintained over the past 11 years of managing the hospital, and we do not intend lowering our high benchmark.
” Under Netcare’s stewardship, the QMMH is one of only four public hospitals in Africa to have
achieved accreditation by the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA). It is also gratifying that the recently released,
Second Endline Study performed by Boston University’s Centre for Global Health in the USA, has reflected the value that has been added to the community.
Netcare was instrumental in leading a consortium of investors to form Tšepong, which concluded the PPP agreement with the GoL. Netcare worked closely with partners
and other stakeholders to procure the financing, which led to the successful construction, refurbishment and day-to-day operation of this world class hospital, which is the first and only facility of its kind in the Kingdom of
Lesotho. Dr Friedland continued, “I am pleased that Netcare is leaving the QMMH with exceptional credentials, and we will do our utmost to facilitate a smooth transition to the
GoL. Furthermore, the hospital has been certified to provide COVID-19 treatment which is desperately needed during this difficult and challenging time.
To this end, Netcare has personally contributed over R1 million in personal protective equipment to protect staff, as well as testing kits to aid in the fight against
COVID-19, to cater for the increased demand. We are also pleased about the extent of our contribution toward the Basotho community development over the past 11 years.
” The consortium of Tšepong shareholders comprises Netcare, which holds a 40% interest,
while the remaining 60% shareholding is held by Afrinnai Health (Pty) Ltd (20% – South African based), Excel Health Services (Pty) Ltd (20% – Lesotho based),
D10 Investments (Pty) Ltd (10% – Lesotho based), and Women Investment Company (Pty) Ltd (10% – Lesotho based). The respective entities represent consortiums of their own shareholders and are clustered to represent
shareholders with common interests. Dr Friedland concluded, “In financial terms, the contribution from the Lesotho PPP is not material to the Netcare Group’s earnings and there is no impact on any other
parts of the Netcare business. Netcare will be handing over the hospital and the primary care clinics to the GoL as fully operational facilities. ” Ends.
Issued by: MNA on behalf of Netcare
Contact: Martina Nicholson, Meggan Saville, Estene Lotriet-Vorster or Clementine Forsthofer
Background Note to Editors:
Netcare’s role
The Netcare Hospital Group (Pty) Ltd (Netcare), a major shareholder in the public-private partnership (PPP) between the Government of Lesotho (GoL) and Tšepong (Pty) Ltd (Tšepong), is responsible for managing the Queen
‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH) and primary care clinics in Maseru, Lesotho. Netcare’s role in the PPP is to provide and deliver all management, clinical and related
services, equipment and information technology (IT), laundry, cleaning, security and gardening services, amongst others. In addition, Netcare is responsible for the nurses’ and emergency services
training and for the establishment of relations with external training institutions to facilitate peer review and support of medical practitioners. Tšepong as principal contractor of the PPP mainly has the obligation for the employment of staff members.
Netcare’s
contributions to the project During May 2010, Netcare commissioned primary care services at three locations in Maseru, and a fourth primary health clinic was established on the hospital premises.
The project infrastructure was completed on 1 October 2011 when Netcare opened the QMMH and commenced inpatient and outpatient treatment. Netcare has continued to be instrumental in the
establishment of a world class facility evidenced by the almost zero operational penalty history confirmed through quarterly assessments by the Independent Monitor.
The Independent Monitor is an (independent) assessor appointed by GoL and Tšepong to review performance where deviations are reported and could result in penalties being
imposed. Netcare has been instrumental in establishing world-class healthcare in Lesotho. The QMMH is the first and only hospital in Lesotho to have been accredited by the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA).
The four primary care clinics managed by Netcare are the first and only primary care clinics in Lesotho to have been accredited by COHSASA. Furthermore, the PPP is the first project to
be independently assessed on more than 1,244 KPIs each quarter where any failure triggers a penalty. The medical technology and range of specialised healthcare services available locally in
Lesotho to the Basotho people were also expanded as part of the PPP and represent several ‘firsts’ in Lesotho. These services include: Netcare acknowledges
the role and contribution made by each staff member concerned in delivering these achievements. This range of specialised services, unprecedented in the country’s history, are now routinely available to the Basotho people,
and significantly elevated the quality and accessibility of healthcare in Lesotho. Netcare is honoured to have been instrumental in the establishment of
this PPP and is privileged to have been able to serve the Basotho people with quality healthcare. This pioneering project and its significant achievements
present a healthcare modality able to be adopted by all African countries that are embracing the Universal Health Coverage goal to ensure equal access to essential quality healthcare services and medicines for all, by 2030.
Allegations of misconduct
Media articles earlier in 2021 have referenced the breakdown in relations between the GoL and Tšepong. A number of these articles contained a variety of unsubstantiated,
factually inaccurate and inflammatory allegations against Netcare, including allegations of misconduct and financial mismanagement. Netcare continues to
refute these allegations in their entirety. Netcare is confident that it has acted in accordance with both the letter and spirit of the law and ethical corporate governance and if required, will defend its position in a court of law.
