Parliament must accept responsibility for Eswatini’s prolonged drug shortage crisis, according to Senator Princess Ncengencenge.
Reacting to the directive issued by Mswati III during the Speech from the Throne at the opening of the Third Session of the 12th Parliament, the senator said the monarch’s order to end the crisis “now” leaves no room for excuses or political deflection.
“A productive nation is a healthy nation. We have heard the major outcry over drug shortages in our health facilities. From now onwards, these drug shortages should stop now. All means possible should be employed to avert this challenge in the future,” the King ordered in his address.
Princess Ncengencenge said the King’s words were not ceremonial rhetoric but a direct instruction — and a rebuke.
“We have spoken about this matter numerous times inside the House and it is painful because it seems we never get the answers and our people continue to suffer without medicines in public health facilities,” she said.
In a rare admission from within the Legislature, she argued that Members of Parliament must shoulder part of the blame.
“Our main job as parliamentarians is oversight. If this situation has persisted for so long, then we must agree that we have failed in that role.”
She criticised the ongoing blame exchanges between government and suppliers.
“We see government pointing to suppliers. Suppliers point back and raise issues about payments. Meanwhile, patients are the ones who pay the real price.”
The senator has been among the most vocal critics of how the crisis has been handled.
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During a heated Senate debate last year, she accused the Ministry of Finance of having “blood on its hands” over delayed payments to pharmaceutical suppliers — remarks rejected by Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg as unfair.
She later clarified that her statement was not personal but reflected the gravity of the situation.
“Sometimes the truth has to cut deep for change to happen,” she said at the time.
Princess Ncengencenge urged legislators to heed the King’s call for members to be “found pleasing and honest in serving the country.”
“This challenge thrown by His Majesty says to us that we must be pleasing and self-serving to the country, not to ourselves. If we are not engaging this matter truthfully and with integrity, then we are not being honest in serving our country.”
The senator also addressed public funding allocated to The Luke Commission (TLC), stressing that the King’s directive was clear: drug shortages must end nationwide — not in one hospital or region.
She clarified that she does not oppose government support for TLC but insists on stronger oversight mechanisms.
“These are public funds, so there must be oversight. Now, we all know that with this arrangement, oversight is not in place in the way it should be.”
Last year, the Ministry of Health allocated E50 million to TLC in the 2025/26 budget — up from E30 million the previous year — despite continued reports of chronic underfunding and medicine shortages in public facilities.
Her concerns were echoed by Senator Princess Temaswati, who questioned whether the funding allocation fairly reflected needs across the health sector.
She cited institutions such as Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, which continue to struggle with basic service provision.
“When we look at The Luke Commission , they keep receiving funds preferentially over other hospitals. What is the money for? Are they truly in more need than other hospitals in the country?” Princess Temaswati asked.
With His Majesty’s directive now firmly on record, pressure is mounting on both the Executive and Parliament to deliver tangible results.
For Princess Ncengencenge, the issue is no longer about shifting blame — but about restoring accountability.
“The people are suffering. That is the bottom line.”
