16 Dec 2024

Government is committed  to turning around the healthcare system by addressing issues that compromise quality healthcare provision, Minister of Health, Dr Stephen Modise has said.

Addressing Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital management during his visit to the facility on Friday, the minister said the hospital was one of the biggest referral hospitals in the country but the delivery of services was not satisfactory hence the unnecessary referrals of patients to as far as Gaborone and Francistown.

He revealed that the current administration was determined to deal with all obstacles to address health related issues, despite the financial situation they faced.

Although the minister said some of the issues were not new to him as he had worked at the facility before becoming minister, he urged all health staff and stakeholders to join forces to turn around the health system.

“We are going to look into all challenges and efficiencies that compromised quality health. The new government is emphasising on the introduction of universal health insurance to ensure every citizen accessed quality and equitable healthcare. That is a call of action to ensure patients have access to all health services without fail,” he added.

Dr Modise said the government had focused much on the curative and less on the preventive aspect and therefore they would now prioritise preventive care to reduce the risk of illnesses.

He said it was disturbing to learn that some units had never functioned since the opening of the hospital in 2008 as the hospital was faced with a serious shortage of medical experts and nurses, adding that patients had been referred to Francistown to access health services.

He also heared that the facility was not appealing nor motivating to staff because the environment was not conducive as staff had no proper accommodation and parking lot for their vehicles.

However, the minister assured management that they would soon have an increase of nurses noting that the recruitment drive was ongoing. Dr Modise emphasised the need to hire staff on permanent and pensionable basis not on temporary basis as it was the case.

He also stressed the need to prioritise the opening of the ICU unit, especially that it had all the necessary equipment. He said it was worrisome that patients travelled long distances while the unit remained idle due to shortage of personnel.

Dr Modise appreciated that the management had managed to fix some of the challenges in the past, such as roof leakages, dilapidated ceilings, repairs of air conditioning units and hot water plant as well as the opening of the kidney dialysis unit.

He emphasised the importance of  opening the refurbished old Maun General hospital, saying it could help relief the referral hospital.

Services to be offered at the said facility included a 24hour maternity clinic, oral health services, x-ray unit and outpatient department with specialist services to ensure continuous health services were brought closer to the people.

Earlier on the hospital superintendent, Dr Lebogang Mokotedi said the facility was faced with several challenges among them shortage of nurses and specialists.

She called on the government to devise ways of delivering better healthcare services saying the facility had all that qualifies it to be a referral hospital, despite shortage of personnel.

She also called on the ministry to consider purchasing houses from Botswana Housing Corporation project for  staff accommodation.

Dr Mokotedi also called for a primary hospital to decongest Letsholathebe hospital which she said was overwhelmed. Ends