10 Feb 2021

 Parliament has been told that out of an estimated population of 981 000 serviced by Nyangabwe Referal Hospital in the northern part of the country, the doctor to patient ratio for specialists at the hospital was 0.2 per 10 000 people. 

Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe noted that the aforementioned number translated to two specialist doctors per 100 000 of the population or one specialist doctor per 50 000 of the population annually. 

He said based on available data and hospital attendances, the ratio for one specialist to patients was 1:1 320 for inpatients and 1:2 400 for outpatient attendances.

Furthermore, he said the ratio for medical officers was 1 per 10 000 people also meaning that one medical officer attends to an estimated population of 10 000 annually.

Additionally, he stated that the hospital attendances was 1:180 for inpatients and 1:2 200 for outpatient attendances (accidents & emergency) annually.

The minister also told Parliament that currently there was no gold standard for assessing the sufficiency of the health workforce.

However, he noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that countries with fewer than 23 health care professionals per 10 000 population would be unlikely to achieve adequate coverage rates for the key primary health care interventions prioritised by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

“As such, these ratios signify a shortage of doctors in Nyangabwe Referral Hospital considering the population serviced and the hospital attendances. The ministry, therefore, continues to partner with strategic partners such as the University of Botswana (UB) and other international ones to train and attract medical doctors within the country,” he stated.

Furthermore, Mr Lelatisitswe stated that the average nurse to patient ratio at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital for inpatients general nursing units was 1:30 and 1:3 for critical general nursing units while the average ratio for outpatient general nursing units was 1:250 based on available hospital data.

He said the above ratios were against the international recommended ratios of 1:10 for inpatients general nursing units, 1:1 for critical general nursing units and 1:30 for outpatient general nursing units as per the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the WHO.

“The above ratio for NRH signifies a shortage of nurses when compared to the international standards,” he noted.

Mr Lelatisitswe also said the average time it took at Nyangabgwe for patients requiring the services of specialists ranged from two weeks to 17 months for oncology and gynaecology specialists respectively.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister to state the patient’s doctor ratio at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital against international best practice;

He also wanted to know the nurse’s patient ratio at the hospital against international best practice and the length of time it took for patients requiring the services of specialists such as gynaecologists to be assisted.

He also enquired about the time it took for patients requiring the services of specialists such as gynaecologists to be assisted. ends