NOW entrusted with solving the prevalent public health crisis, Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula during his previous tenure as a member of parliament (MP) strongly advocated for an end to drug shortages.
He was elected Siphocosini MP from 2018 to 2023. At that time he was not appointed into cabinet, but served the people of Siphocosini as a legislator.
During his tenure a backbencher, he moved about five motions pertaining to the health crisis, which had already started showing its ugly head then.
Some of these motions included that on May 30, 2022, in the House of Assembly, Matsebula demanded that the minister of health at that time Lizzie Nkosi submits a concise report within seven days on what the ministry was doing to address the root causes of the medicine shortages in public health facilities.
He further recommended the establishment of a contingency reserve for medicine of strategic importance. In this motion, he was seconded by former Dvokodvweni MP Mduduzi Magagula.
On June 13, 2022, the same private member’s motion was moved by Matsebula. On April 27, 2023, he asked a question for an oral answer to the then minister of health with regards to upgrading Sigangeni Clinic into a healthcare centre or hospital and providing at least an ambulance to service Siphocisini Inkhundla and neighbouring constituencies.
Matsebula on June 8, of the same year, demanded through a motion that the minister within seven days of passing the motion, submit a report to the august House narrating the measures the ministry has or will put in place to resolve the health crises facing the country.
Matsebula asked the then minister to explain why there was a shortage of human resources and equipment in public clinics and hospitals, as well as inadequate medical supplies in public clinics and hospitals.
“The minister should also explain why there is a shortage of linen and bedding in public hospitals. The minister should also narrate why there is a shortage of transport and fuel, and also why there is a crisis in the creation of a contingency reserve of medical supplies of strategic importance,” said Matsebula when moving this motion.
The same motion also appeared in the Order Paper for June 15.
Even on this motion, Matsebula was seconded by Magagula who when reached for comment said he recalled explicitly the motions that they moved with the now minister of health.
He said they advocated for a solution to the health crisis with Matsebula, however, highlighting that things were better then because patients used to get panado and some medication when visiting health facilities.
He added that, the situation hadworsened because patients now leave health facilities without medication but prescriptions.
“Public hospitals have since become consultation rooms; this has become a national disaster, hence the ministry needs to work with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to curb deaths,” he said.
He accused the pharmacies of being milking cows and ‘stealing’ medication from government.
“When I seconded the motion, I asked that there be an inventory that would compare the population with the medication. I asked that the medication be ordered in advance and be stored at the Central Medical Stores (CMS),” he said.
He said Matsebula still has the zeal to fix the health system, but he could not do it alone. He said he always makes follow ups with the minister.
“If you are a minister, there are other people who have to play their part. The minister only plays the political role and we do not know what happens in other offices. He is trying, but they are letting him down in the ministry,” he said.
Former Motshane MP Robert Magongo alluded to the fact that during the 11th parliament, Matsebula moved numerous motions on health issues.
He said if he was the minister, he would resign because the issues he used to raise in the period between 2018-2023 now haunted him.
“He strongly advocated for swift actions in the country’s ailing public health sector; there has been no improvement.” Magongo said. Matsebula was appointed health minister while he was aware of the unending challenges that had marred the sector.
Former Gilgal MP Sandla Fakudze said Matsebula during his previous tenure debated on many issues not necessarily the ones affecting public health. He said they were still hoping to see change because they had the hope the new broom sweeps cleaner because the minister was new alongside that a principal secretary.
He said the officials from the ministry might be fixing the issues from the bottom.
“He might have looked at the issues from afar, he is experiencing them first-hand. I cannot crucify the minister now.”
He said Matsebula once moved a motion about the decentralisation of dialysis services, however, to date such has not happened.
Meanwhile, Minister Matsebula said he was committed more than before in fixing the public health crisis.
He said as a ministry, they had to improve their Nkwe mandate, adding that this was is their year of transformation, highlighting that he has no doubt that the ministry would be transformed.
Matsebula said the crisis needs a collective responsibility because some of the problems were multi-sectoral.
“It is not just about the minister, we need all hands on deck. My term of office is five years, not 18 months, so it is still work in progress,” he said.
