- as financial crisis limits services to emergencies
- staff salaries unpaid for two months
Mathatisi Sebusi
SEVERAL hospitals under the Christian Health Association of Lesotho (CHAL) are in financial dire straits that has resulted in the suspension of key healthcare services and non-payment of staff salaries for two months.
This has dampened staff morale, triggering a go-slow action by workers and forcing the hospitals to limit services to emergencies only.
The government bears 80 percent of the costs of running CHAL health facilities, with donors footing the remaining 20 percent of the bill.
St Joseph’s Hospital, Paray Mission Hospital, and Seboche Hospital are among the facilities hardest hit by the shortages of resources.
On Friday, St Joseph’s Hospital issued a memorandum informing the public that it had stopped offering services in several departments and would operate on an emergency-only basis due to the acute lack of resources.
“Please be informed that, effective 27 November 2025, the management of St Joseph’s has decided to cease healthcare services provision in some departments and will only offer emergency services due to a lack of resources. We advise the public to seek healthcare services elsewhere until services have resumed normally,” the memo stated.
Paray Mission Hospital also announced service disruptions on Friday, citing a severe shortage of medicines that has affected service delivery to the extent that the hospital can no longer run certain critical services, particularly outpatient department (OPD) services.
The hospital said in the meantime it would only continue offering HIV and TB services, counselling, and antenatal services at OPD.
“Theatre and maternity services are on the verge of being suspended, and we may soon be forced to release mothers currently staying in waiting shelters,” the hospital noted.
Similarly, Seboche Hospital announced on Thursday that it was experiencing interruptions in healthcare delivery. The hospital reported slow service in its OPD, attributing this to staff concerns over delayed payment of November salaries.
“The management is doing its best to address the issue internally while still attending to emergencies, but we advise the public to seek healthcare services elsewhere until formal communication is made that services have resumed normally,” the hospital stated.
Meanwhile, CHAL and the Ministry of Health have assured hospitals that a solution is underway.
On Friday, CHAL informed its facilities that the government had committed to providing funds for the purchase of medicines and pay outstanding salaries.
“I am pleased to inform you that the meeting between CHAL proprietors and the Right Honourable Prime Minister was held successfully. An MoU has been signed by both parties — this is the previously existing MoU, now extended through an addendum to guide our continued collaboration,” CHAL said in a communication to its members.
“It has come to our attention that in some facilities, staff have begun a go-slow due to the two months’ salaries that remain unpaid. Please be assured that the government has pledged that the required funds will be deposited into the facilities’ accounts during the coming week,” CHAL added, urging hospitals to engage their staff and encourage them to resume normal duties.
The Ministry of Health also confirmed that an agreement had been reached with CHAL, allowing the organisation to receive funds for salaries and medicines while broader negotiations continue to establish a sustainable, long-term solution.
Speaking to the Sunday Express, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Maneo Ntene, said the challenges arose because the contract between the government and CHAL has not been reviewed.
“The contract needs to be reviewed, and we realised that both parties needed time on their sides. We have agreed that between now and April, we will work under a contract to ensure that healthcare service delivery is not affected while the review is underway. The existing contract was made without considering future implications,” Ms Ntene said.