Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Esperance Luvindao, has clarified the perception that a directive regarding lunch breaks for medical staff in state hospitals was meant to deny workers their meals. Instead, she stated, the directive aims to ensure staff take lunch breaks in a way that does not interrupt patient care.

Responding to a concern raised in Parliament by NUDO MP Vetaruhe Kandorozu, Dr. Luvindao explained that the directive, issued some time ago, was mainly aimed at nurses—not doctors—to prevent them from skipping lunch.

She said the directive means health workers should take lunch in shifts, allowing hospital services to continue without interruption.

"So we know that they must eat and know that it's important, but there was a complaint raised by the community stating, as you have mentioned, that oftentimes, they come to the hospital, and they have to wait for long hours while nurses go on lunch breaks. That is where the directive came from. At the end of the directive, we did mention that should anybody not follow the directive that was given and this come to light, we will take the necessary measures, and so therefore, if you are aware of where this is happening, please do bring this to us, and we will take the necessary action."

Kandorozu had questioned why doctors were still seen taking long lunch breaks, sometimes lasting up to two hours, leaving patients unattended in queues.

Dr. Luvindao stressed that her remarks at the time were not a promise but a directive meant to improve service delivery without compromising staff wellbeing.

She added that hospital management is expected to implement the lunch rotation system and ensure staff availability at all times.