Gov't moves to save troubled Bamalete Luttheran Hospital
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday May 24, 2019 14:18
Madigele recently to discuss how they could save the hospital missing funds following a Forensic Audit undertaken on the facility that showed that there was no trace of P16 million which disappeared from the hands of management.
The hospital has been rocked by several problems due to maladministration resulting in failure to pay workers on time, shortage of medicines and shortage of food rations for in-patients.
“This issue is very sensitive. It is true we met with the owners of Bamalete Lutheran Hospital last week Wednesday. They asked for time to go and consult with hospital management and dikgosi regarding the issue of handing over. We are expecting them to bring their hand over proposal by mid June,” Madigele said.
Still on the matter, Mmegi has learnt that the hospital owners confirmed that they have a problem of running the hospital because they reside outside Botswana and they hardly visit to review their operations. “The government’s main worry is that it cannot continue funding the hospital if the management cannot account for funds given. Government also demands to know why some employees go for long periods without being paid,” a source said.
For his part, Bamalete Lutheran hospital chairperson Phenyo Segokgo only confirmed that they had met with the owners of the facility. He referred all enquiries to the Minister of Health and Wellness. Recently the midst of the administrative and financial crisis, eight doctors at the hospital threw in the towel last year, as well as a radiologist.
Coupled with that, workers claimed they were owed up to P3 million in cumulative unpaid salaries, with some of these amounts dating back to 2010. Some source say, one employee is owed P202, 000. 00 in salary arrears. Mmegi is informed that after years of late payments and salary arrears, disgruntled employees have since written to the Office of the President and the board pleading for intervention.
In the unfolding puzzle, a Deloitte audit handed to the board last October, paints a picture of gross maladministration at the hospital. At least P16 million covering 120 transactions could not be accounted for. “The board had wanted the audit report to be shared with the workers, but management refused,” an insider told Mmegi.
But Segokgo this week told Mmegi that the hospital management had paid all arrears they were owing to workers.
The government gives Bamalete Lutheran Hospital just over P14 million a year as grant. Government has been providing funding to the health facility since the 1970s when it entered into a Grant Agreement for recurrent expenditure, including procurement of medical equipment
The troubles of the hospital have spilled to the upper echelons with two members of management still on suspension. BLH CEO, Moagi Mmitsi and School of Nursing principal Martha Mothibe were suspended last year.