08 Sep 2019

Botswana is strategically placed in the SADC region, says Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo.

Opening the SADC Medical and Dental Regulatory Association Symposium (MDRA) in Gaborone on September 5, Mr Mabeo said the choice of Botswana as a launch pad for the symposium was a smart one.

He said Botswana was embarking on an economic transformation journey and also strategically moving its economy setup to a knowledge-based one with the hope that it would move its status to high income by 2036.

The minister said hosting such meetings gave the country an opportunity to realize its aspiration.
Mr Mabeo said after the launch, MDRA should deal with the teething troubles that each country faced specially with issues of inconsistent standards of regulation for health professionals among member countries, leading to inconsistent delivery of healthcare.

“I am told that the establishment of SADC-MDRA was first mooted after the health ministers from SADC countries met in Eswatini in 2016 with the aim among others, to establish close collaboration and mutual exchange of information between medical councils of the region countries,” he said.

He said it was also meant to assist member councils to adopt beneficial practices to function efficiently and effectively and also strengthen the standard of undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education.

Mr Mabeo said the other important aim was to allow member councils to develop and establish strategies of improving standard of professionalism in accordance with their needs and also establish close relationships with other international organisations committed to improving professional standards among medical practitioners.

He said regulatory bodies had a role to play in improving the quality of life for citizens, adding that they should protect the general public by registering medical professionals and guide the medical profession body.

Mr Mabeo said, “Mobility of human resources is a phenomenon that the region has to live with “. ENDS