24 Feb 2015

The Ministry of Health says the waiting time at Area W clinic in Francistown has changed to about 2-3 hours following the introduction of block booking of some of the services such as ARV, Child Welfare and Antenatal clinics in January this year.

Assistant Minister of Health Dr Alfred Madigele said in the past the clinic had an average waiting time of about 6 hours.

He said the influx of client is caused by its convenient location close to the city centre and bus rank.

Dr Madigele said unlike the two other 24 hour health facilities in Gerald and Jubilee, Area W has doctors throughout which also contributes to the influx of the facility.

He said the ministry is continuously monitoring the situation and once the ministry is able to recruit additional doctors, some will be posted to greater Francistown DHMT to meet the current shortages in these other 24 hour clinics.

He further said the ministry currently has no plan to convert either Masego, Lapologang or Botswelelo clinics into a 24 hour facility in order to ease the congestion at Area W.

Dr Madigele said the situation like in all other health clinics that are operating on a 24 hour basis is monitored continuously to determine if there is a need for extension of service hours.

“Once the need has been determined and resources permitting plans are put in place to extend service hours and based on the current outpatient statistics, Masego, Lapologang and Botswelelo do not qualify to operate 24 hours,” said Dr Madigele.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked if the minister is aware that an untenable prevalent at Area W clinic where patients queue for an average of six hours before being assisted.

He also asked what causes of the delay and if the minister will consider converting either Masego, Lapologang or Botswelelo clinic into a 24 hour facility in order to ease the congestion at Area W. ENDS