IN an effort to change the country’s health sector, government has increased subventions to mission hospitals including the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFM) and Siteki Good Shepherd Hospital.
According to budget estimates tabled in the House of Assembly by the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg on Friday, RFM Hospital will now receive E242 531 249.
The facility’s subvention has been increased by E12 378 600, as it received E230 152 649 last year.
Siteki Good Shepherd Hospital will receive E138 334 965 as government subvention this year. Last year, the facility was allocated E133 740 468, a E4 594 497 increase.
Moreover, government allocated over E3 billion (E3 238 876 186) to the ministry of health this year. Government has also increased subventions to Catholic clinics; last year, the State subvented Catholic clinics with E2 784 740, while this year they will receive E3 184 740, an increase of E400 000. Government has also increased St Theresa’s Clinic subvention by E200 000.
This year, E700 000 will be paid to the health facility, an increase from the E500 000 that was paid last year.
However, this year there is no subvention included for The Luke Commission.
This comes at a time when His Majesty King Mswati III commanded that there should be an end to the drug shortage crisis in health facilities.
The king stated that as government works to resolve the issue, drug shortages should stop immediately.
He said every local seeking medical treatment must get the necessary medicine when they go to a health facility needing urgent care.
“All possible means should be employed to avert this challenge in the future. This experience must provide valuable lessons on the strategies required for a sustainable drug sourcing and supply chain for our health sector,” he said.
He added that government needs effective long-term plans spanning the next 40 to 50 years to ensure that future generations find systems and structures operating efficiently and effectively.
