Maseru, Mar.09 – The Ministry of Health still faces a salary shortfall of M15,875,143 despite securing M35,922,602 to pay staff whose positions were not budgeted for in the 2025/2026 financial year.
This emerged during a joint meeting of Parliamentary Portfolio Committees held for ministerial consultations on the 2026/2027 annual budget.
The meeting heard that 394 positions were filled although they had not been budgeted for, with the majority of the posts being at Maseru District Hospital. This resulted in a salary deficit estimated at about M52 million.
It was further revealed that the Ministry obtained a virement of M35,922,602 from its operations budget to cover part of the salaries. However, the reallocation is still awaiting approval from the Minister of Finance and Development Planning.
Speaking during the meeting, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mrs Moliehi Ntene, said the Ministry had been allocated M20 million in the 2024/2025 financial year, with M10 million earmarked for equipment and the remaining M10 million for recruitment of staff.
She explained that the Ministry had to transfer staff from other government hospitals and clinics to Maseru District Hospital to ensure that the facility became operational.
Mrs Ntene said the Ministry later requested an additional M46 million for equipment, which was subsequently approved.
She added that the Ministry also sought renewal authority to recruit staff, which was granted.
When asked why the Ministry recruited 394 employees despite the absence of a budget, Mrs Ntene said the decision was based on the recruitment policy, but acknowledged that it was an oversight on the Ministry’s part.
Meanwhile, the Agency has learnt that the Ministry is not expected to face a salary shortage in the 2026/2027 financial year. However, it currently has a deficit of about M30 million, of which M15,875,143 is required to pay staff salaries for the month of March.
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