The Eswatini government has established a 15-member commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of malpractice at The Luke Commission (TLC) Hospital. The team, appointed by Minister for Health Mduduzi Matsebula, will have unrestricted access to the TLC health facility and all relevant departments. The probe was announced a month after Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini revealed the government's intention to investigate the hospital.
The commission of inquiry, set up under the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1963, will investigate various allegations, including those related to fees charged to patients, government subvention, and the handling of deceased persons. The team will be chaired by Senior Medical Officer at Mbabane Government Hospital Dr. Mbuso Dlamini, who holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Witwatersrand.
The 15-member team comprises medical doctors, law enforcement officials, and representatives from the Labour Department. Notable members include Dr. Nondumiso Ncube, the National Executive Director of the National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS, and Dr. Makhosini Mabuza from the Medical and Dental Council. The team will also examine allegations concerning the improper handling, storage, identification, and release of deceased persons.
The committee's functions include investigating allegations of unfair labour practices, such as victimisation, underpayment, and non-remittance to the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF). They will review staffing qualifications, licensing, and professional registration of clinical personnel and assess whether existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and funding arrangements between government and TLC are consistent with national health policy objectives.
The probe team will conduct site inspections at TLC health facilities to verify compliance with national and international health standards, ethical health policies, practices, and standards. They will engage stakeholders through interviews to gather evidence and perspectives relevant to the inquiry. The committee will also review drug procurement, storage, and dispensing of medicines, including allegations about the use of expired medicines or veterinary medicine used on patients.
Upon completion of the task, the investigators will make recommendations in respect of the institutional structure and governance, financial management, and procurement capacity necessary to deliver accessible, affordable, and effective healthcare services. The quorum of the committee shall be a majority of its appointed members, with the chairperson presiding at all meetings.
The investigation aims to provide TLC with an opportunity to respond to the allegations, and the appointment of the probe team does not imply guilt. The committee's findings and recommendations will likely have significant implications for the hospital's operations and the country's healthcare sector.
Key points
- The Eswatini government has set up a 15-member commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of malpractice at The Luke Commission Hospital.
- The probe team will investigate allegations related to fees charged to patients, government subvention, and labour practices.
- The committee's findings and recommendations will likely have significant implications for the hospital's operations and the country's healthcare sector.
