22 Jan 2026

Government spends P12 million annually on private emergency medical services due to shortcomings in the public ambulance system, Ombudsman Advocate Stephen Tiroyakgosi has revealed.

Presenting findings of an investigation into Princess Marina Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department, Advocate Tiroyakgosi said the Ministry of Health’s fleet of 101 active ambulances was plagued by ageing vehicles, with most over five years old and failing to meet roadworthiness standards.

“The Ministry lacks a policy or planning framework to determine the optimal number of ambulances required to meet national demand, leading to the procurement of an insufficient fleet,” he said.

This has led to frequent breakdowns and substantial costs servicing and repairing the fleet .

Government’s reliance on private emergency medical services is a costly consequence of shortcomings in the public ambulance system, Ombudsman Advocate Stephen Tiroyakgosi has revealed.

The Ministry of Health’s fleet of 101 active ambulances is plagued by ageing vehicles, with most over five years old and failing to meet roadworthiness standards. Repairs and deployment are often hit by funding issues, and without a long-term plan, costs keep piling up.

The emergency medical transport system is basically firefighting, with lots of spending but no sustainability.

A moratorium on Government Purchase Orders delayed ambulance servicing and fuel, affecting patient transfers. This means people sometimes wait ages to get care, and it can lead to bad outcomes.

During an interactive session, the Ombudsman met with media and stakeholders to clarify its role in addressing challenges at Princess Marina Hospital and the Ministry of Health.

Mr Mandla Pule of BONELA sought clarity on economic and cultural rights, specifically how they relate to the Constitution and Public Health Act, and citizens’ right to health .

Ms Thato Selemogo asked about patient mortality rates during the six-month investigation period. However, lead researcher Ms Michelle Micinthe said there were no available data on patient deaths.

Ms Micinthe also highlighted that medicine shortages at Central Medical Stores (CMS) have been an ongoing issue since 2020, worsening over time. She attributed this partly to CMS’s leadership instability, with the director position being filled by acting officers only. ENDS