By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Peter Simelane, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) at Swazimed says, the situation is under control and private institutions who provide health services to their clients are receiving payments.

The CEO was responding to this Swaziland News on Friday, amid allegations suggesting that,the Medical Scheme was facing financial challenges and/or delaying to release payments for private hospitals and clinics.

This comes after the Medical Scheme constructed a hospital worth R400million, the Ezulwini Private Hospital was officially opened by King Mswati.

But now, it has emerged that R400million was allegedly part of the Health Scheme reserves, and the monies were utilized with the hope that the Ezulwini Private Hospital will quickly generate profits.

“Situation is normal and payments are released on time. Maybe if you can check from those private hospitals who are complaining, they must indicate the outstanding payments are for which months. If they are referring to July payments, then that is not an issue because an invoice is paid after thirty(30) days. We are also waiting for contribution for the month of August”, said the SwaziMed CEO.

It is alleged that one of the affected hospitals who recently had their payment delayed is Women and Children but, the employee who answered at the call at the hospital’s reception suggested that the matter could be best addressed to the media by Director identified as Mr Mlotsa.

Other senior Health Practitioners confirmed that SwaziMed had some financial challenges and payments were delayed.

It is alleged that other payments were supposed to processed last week, but the CEO when asked to clarify, maintained that SwaziMed was also waiting for August 2023 subscription from employers on behalf of their clients. 

As a result of the alleged financial challenges, Managers to limit the number of days patients spent in hospitals and the types of operations they authorise for its members.  

“This policy is compromising patient care and lives. In order to further save money the CEO has withdrawn practice numbers and withheld payments to several local hospitals, laboratories,dentists, and doctors that provided services to Swazimed members in efforts to reduce expenses. These local service providers are now threatening to withhold all services to Swazimed patients.Three of the local laboratories in the country have now been crippled as their practice number was withdrawn and payment withheld”, said an insider very close to the matter.

On another note,King Mswati,when officially opening the SwaziMed owned hospital said,the investment was a testimony to the Medical Scheme’s continuous efforts for quality healthcare.

“This investment is further testimony to EswatiniMed's continuous efforts to support the government's goal for quality, accessible healthcare for all our people,” said the King.