TLC: No more free oxygen to health facilities
The Luke Commission (TLC) has announced that it will no longer provide free oxygen cylinders to health facilities in the country, stating that it can no longer afford to operate the oxygen plant at current levels.
In a statement released yesterday, TLC explained that reducing operations to a minimal level was necessary to save energy and ongoing maintenance costs. This change is expected to have a significant impact on the availability of oxygen for patients in need.
The health institution noted that, although TLC had partial funding for the services that would continue, most of these were not fully funded at the scale that was required.
“TLC is still currently serving 14 000 outpatients a month, down from 25 000 outpatients a month in September 2023. Additional downscaling may be required, as the number of patients needing services continues to be above our funding levels,” reads the statement in part.
It was further mentioned that these changes would not only impact TLC’s very important patients (VIPs), but would also affect TLC staff and management, who had invested their time, energy and own financial resources to keep TLC fully operational.
Painful
The institution highlighted that for the team, not being able to serve everyone who sought care, was painful. Consequently, it stated that they did do not have further comment at this stage.
“Our heart is for the health and development of the nation, and the trust of our patients is our highest honour,” TLC said.
Meanwhile, the health institution highlighted that, for nearly two decades, it had been committed to comprehensive care of every patient in an effort to prevent future impact from untreated health conditions. It revealed that after providing over 300 000 comprehensive healthcare visits in the last year, the current resources did not allow them to continue providing this essential service at this scale.
TLC cited that they had tried by all means to keep the inpatient wards open.
“These wards are between 80-95 per cent capacity at all times. Unfortunately, the inpatient wards do not have dedicated funding and we cannot balance the inpatient services, while honouring the partners who have invested in outpatient services,” said the institution.
The institution highlighted that they were faced with the inability to pay staff salaries and cover operational costs.
The statement also highlighted that it had always been the institution’s sole objective and greatest fulfillment to serve every patient. Under the direction from the institution’s Board to responsibly manage the current mismatch between patients’ needs and available resources, and to ensure the future of TLC for the long-term service of all emaSwati, the institution mentioned that it sadly must suspend inpatient services with effect on February 26. Nonetheless, it highlighted that many of TLC’s inpatient services that would continue without interruption were the Snake Bite Treatment Unit, labour and delivery/maternity, paediatrics and the surgical units (inclusive of orthopaedic and eye).
In addition, the statement disclosed that the institution would do everything in its power to facilitate this change with as little disruption to the care of the patients as possible.
Meanwhile, the institution highlighted that the Miracle Campus outpatient department would continue to offer resourced outpatient services seven days a week, PrEP, women’s health including family planning, cervical cancer screening/treatment, HIV testing, as well as ARV treatment, TB screening/treatment, ANC/MCH services and VMMC. It stated that it would remain a one-stop-shop for other health needs for those coming to TLC primarily for the above resourced services.
Services
“Effective immediately, apart from the above listed resourced services available seven days a week, the Miracle Campus outpatient department will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only for ultrasound, rehabilitation/physiotherapy, wound care, dental, disability support, surgical, orthopaedic, and eye services,” it was announced.
It further mentioned that effective immediately, the outpatient site in Matsapha would be open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday only for PrEP, women’s health including family planning, cervical cancer screening/treatment, ANC/ MCH services, HIV testing, ARV treatment, TB screening/treatment, wound care, and eye services.
It was mentioned that specialty care patients would be contacted by call or by SMS when opportunities for assistance availed themselves.