Botswana, Africa’s leading diamond producer, has declared a public health emergency amid severe shortages of essential medicines and medical equipment.
- Botswana faces a public health emergency due to critical shortages of medicines and medical equipment.
- President Duma Boko announced a plan involving military oversight to resolve supply chain issues.
- The healthcare crisis stems from financial constraints and debts exceeding 1 billion pula.
- Economic challenges, including decreased diamond revenues, have further strained Botswana’s healthcare system.
In a televised address on Monday, President Duma Boko outlined a multimillion-dollar plan to resolve the supply chain issues, which will include military oversight to ensure timely distribution.
The country’s healthcare system is under significant pressure due to limited financial resources. President Boko warned that addressing the shortages would be “highly price sensitive” given the nation’s constrained coffers.
Earlier this month, the health ministry reported “significant challenges,” including shortages of medical supplies and debts exceeding 1 billion pula (£55.2 million). Most of these debts arose from patients seeking treatments in private hospitals for services unavailable in public facilities.
In a press release signed by Dr. Christopher Nyanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the government explained that ongoing financial constraints have severely strained the country’s medicines and medical commodities.
To address the crisis, the Ministry has had to streamline health services and prioritize saving lives above all else.
“As a result, the Ministry will, for the time being, prioritize emergency and urgent surgical operations.”
“Elective and non-urgent procedures including arthroplasty (joint replacement surgeries), insertion of prosthetic eyes, organ transplants, and other operations for generally non-life-threatening conditions that cannot be performed internally will be postponed, as the Ministry is currently unable to make as many referrals to private health facilities as before.”
“The chronic medicines dispensing program implemented with private pharmacies will also be suspended for now,” the statement said.
Addressing the crisis, President Boko stated, “The work shall remain nonstop until the entire value chain of procurement has been fixed.” He also announced that the finance ministry had approved 250 million pula (£13.8 million, $18.3 million) in emergency funding to stabilize the healthcare system.
Botswana feels pressure as diamond market slows
Botswana, with a population of 2.5 million, is grappling with significant economic and public health challenges.
As one of the world’s leading diamond producers, the country has been hit hard by a downturn in the international diamond market, a sector that underpins its economy.
In June, Botswana’s primary diamond company, Debswana, a joint venture between the government and global mining giant De Beers, paused production at several of its mines, citing prolonged weak global demand.
Last year, Debswana’s sales revenue fell by nearly 50 percent. The company, which accounts for roughly 90 percent of Botswana’s diamond sales, said the reduced output is expected to generate significant cost savings across areas such as fuel and electricity.
The situation has been further exacerbated by cuts in U.S. aid, which previously funded about a third of Botswana’s HIV response, according to UNAIDS. These combined pressures have contributed to rising unemployment and increased poverty, leaving the population particularly vulnerable.
Health Minister Dr. Stephen Modise disclosed that the cuts and economic strain have affected the availability of medicines and supplies for treating cancers, HIV, and tuberculosis, among other critical conditions.
Despite the challenges, the government remains optimistic. “I have no doubt that soon, very soon, we will overcome. This is definitely not insurmountable,” Dr. Modise said.
