01 Aug 2013

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is aware that their paging system has not been operational since 2011.

The Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri told Parliament that the paging system was affected by a virus and that during the cleaning up of the system, some of the information in database was deleted. Mr Matlhabaphiri stated that despite the non-functional paging system, there was no communication breakdown between staff on duty and specialists on call, as speed dials which were introduced in 2010 were being used.

He noted that all heads of department, specialists and senior officers who may be required in case of emergency have been allocated unique speed dials that have been linked to their mobile phones and can be contacted from any Princess Marina Hospital landline.

Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central, Mr Dumelang Saleshando had asked the minister if he was aware that the paging system that allows nurses to communicate with doctors at Princess Marina Hospital has not been operational since 2011. ENDS