27 Apr 2022

 Today’s health care system cannot be thought of nor planned with yesteryear’s mindset because disease trends have changed.
This was said by Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti in Maun Tuesday during a ministry strategy retreat.
The aging population and emerging health threats, together with increased community expectations and reforms for sustainable investment in quality health system, called for a different approach, he said.
As such, Dr Dikoloti  said, the commitment of the ministry’s leadership should be reflected in both their plans and way of doing business.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the fragility of the health care system, hence the need to invest in primary health care, as a means of reaching universal coverage.
The ministry, he said was charged with ensuring that Batswana enjoyed the highest attainable standards of health in order to actively participate in the economy. “It is our duty as the Ministry of Health to ensure that none of the people of Botswana is denied access to quality health care,” he stressed.
He revealed that the ministry’s decentralisation process was nearing completion and that  a clear guiding document  on the capacitation of implementing units to lead effective teams for the delivery of primary health care services was being developed.
Dr Dikoloti said the ministry would optimise health service delivery through equitable allocation of resources to address community health needs while reducing disparities and minimising wastage.
He stressed the need to develop the country’s value chain system in order to reduce costs and increase private sector involvement in order to strengthen Central Medical Stores’ operations for better delivery of medications to all health facilities. Minister Dikoloti also emphasised the importance of digitisation for convenience and accessibility of services and the need to upskill people to enhance service delivery.
The ministry permanent secretary, Ms Grace Muzila stated that the 2022/23 draft strategy was already in motion as guided by the Reset Agenda, National Development Plan and budget speech.
She implored the senior officers in attendance to support the minister’s roadmap and further roll it out to their respective offices.
Ms Muzila expressed satisfaction with the deliberations and contributions made during the preliminary meetings and further encouraged officers to keep up the commitment and dedication.
North West District Health Management Team (DHMT) coordinator, Dr Sandra Maripe promised that as implementers of the strategy, they would do their best to achieve the ministry’s ojectives.She also pledged, on behalf of officers, commitment to support the minister’s roadmap.
Dr Maripe thanked the minister for acknowledging the hard work and commitment displayed by staff saying it motivated them to continue working hard.ENDS