10 Mar 2025

The decentralisation of primary healthcare services is meant to improve service delivery and efficiency in the health sector.

This was said by Minister of Health, Dr Stephen Modise when addressing Serowe District Full Council meeting recently. 

As of April 1, all primary healthcare functions would be transferred from Ministry of Health to Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, while primary and referral hospitals functions would remain with Ministry of Health. 

Dr Modise said government wished to have a functional and efficient health system, which served people satisfactorily.

Furthermore, he said government envisioned a new Botswana where all its citizens had access to quality healthcare services, without discrimination based on social standing. This, he said would be achieved through the National Health Insurance scheme to be implemented in the near future.  Also, he promised that the ministry would secure additional pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to ensure that all 24-hour health facilities would had a drug dispensary working 24 hours.

Also, he acknowledged that government was aware of current challenges bedeviling Sekgoma Memorial Hospital. Such challenges, he said included but not limited to shortages of consumables and eye nurses at the facility as well as maintenance issues, which hindered service delivery. He said the maintenance team was working round the clock to come up with short-term solutions as the Ministry of Health prepared for more permanent and long-term solutions.  

For his part, Secretary for Primary Healthcare, Dr Mareko Ramotsababa said the decentralisation of primary healthcare would bring some structural changes. He said all clinics would retain all the employees and resources.

He further said procurements made through the Ministry of Health would be routed to Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs once delivered to be distributed in clinics. ENDS