The procurement woes plaguing the Ministry of Health show no sign of easing, as the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA) has once again halted the awarding of critical health tenders, this time with a combined value of over E570 million.
The regulator has directed the ministry to suspend the procurement of drugs, medical supplies, ICU and renal equipment, blood transfusion commodities and laboratory supplies, following fresh complaints lodged by some suppliers.
The two tenders in question, Tender No. 104 and Tender No. 105 for the 2025/26 financial year, were designed to urgently plug dangerous gaps in the country’s medical supply chain. Together, insiders say their value is at more than E350 million and E220 million respectively.
ESPPRA Directive
In correspondence seen by this newspaper, ESPPRA instructed the Ministry of Health to halt all processes related to Tenders 104 and 105 until an investigation into supplier complaints has been completed.
“The concerns raised cannot be ignored unfortunately, and the Agency needs to investigate the matter to inform an appropriate way to address the same. Pursuant to the above, the Agency directs you to halt the procurement process pending the investigations,” reads part of ESPPRA’s letter, which further promised to fast-track the probe and deliver a decision by Friday this week.
Pattern of Suspensions
The situation mirrors events just two weeks ago, when ESPPRA froze Tender No. 1 of 2025/26, valued at over E400 million, for the supply of surgical consumables such as sutures, sterile gauze and wound dressings.
That decision followed a formal objection lodged by an unsuccessful bidder, Top EMS Swaziland (Pty) Ltd. At the time, suppliers had already been notified of their awards, only for the process to be abruptly suspended.
In total, tenders amounting to nearly E1 billion have now been placed in limbo within the space of just two weeks, an unprecedented situation which health insiders warn could have devastating consequences for patients across the kingdom.
Impact on Hospitals
Health insiders say the delays could not come at a worse time as the tenders cover some of the most vital products used daily in public health facilities.
“This is deeply worrying. These tenders are about keeping hospitals functioning. To have them abruptly stopped when the country is already battling shortages is not only unprecedented, but very concerning,” said one senior procurement officer.
Another clinician warned that intensive care units are now facing serious risks.
“ICU equipment and renal supplies are not optional. If these do not come through in time, we are going to see avoidable deaths. That is the harsh reality,” they stated.
Suppliers in Limbo
The tendering process for supplying the Ministry of Health with essential medicines and supplies this year attracted strong interest from both local and international companies, including firms from Eswatini, South Africa and Europe.
Several suppliers had already been informed of their awards under framework agreements, with contracts structured around unit pricing. But with ESPPRA’s directive, even successful suppliers now find themselves in limbo.
All eyes are therefore on the procurement regulator’s promised deadline of this Friday, by which the agency has pledged to deliver its decision on the latest tenders. In the meantime, insiders warn that the health system continues to operate on dangerously thin margins.
