08 Nov 2022

Long waiting periods for Accident and Emergency (A&E) and cancer patients may soon be a thing of the past, following promises by health minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti that he would ensure patients were assisted speedily. 

Dr Dikoloti, made the promise after visiting A&E and oncology wings at Princess Marina Hospital Sunday, where patients complained about long waiting hours and even days before they could get help. 

On the troublesome issue of drug shortage, the minister assured patients that his ministry was actively addressing the issue and that more medicines were being purchased. 

“We are giving the issue our highest attention,” he said. 

The minister warned that non-communicable diseases (NCD) were on the rise and urged patients and Batswana to exercise and eat healthy to improve their health. 

He said previously government spent about P5 million on medicines for NCDs, but that this year the amount shot up to P15 million. Regarding shortage of nurses and doctors, Dr Dikoloti said his minstry had sent some doctors and nurses for further training and that they would be posted to health facilities around the country upon their return. 

The minister said this would help to reduce the number of patients referred to Princess Marina and Nyangabgwe hospitals. 

he health minister assured hospital staff that he would be visiting them and their patients again to offer support. Some patients who spoke to the minister decried poor work ethic among hospital personnel. 

Ms Mighlar Jackson said she had been seating on the A&E benches since the previous day, and had not been assisted, and staff had not any explanation as to why they were not being assisted. 

She said Princes Marina Hospital had poor response time and that only emergency cases were attended to promptly while other patients were ignored. 

“A lot of us spent the night here and we were hoping to be assisted first thing in the morning, but as you can see it’s already in the afternoon,” said Ms Jackson. 

Sharing the same sentiments, Ms Miso Puoeng from Thamaga also said the situation at the referral hospital was proof that the public health sector was overburdened and under-resourced. 

Ms Puoeng said she had brought her ailing mother to the hospital the previous day and that they had not been assisted. 

She sounded off a warning that failure by A&E nurses to assist on time could be an indication they were overburdened, which was representative of the situation around the country. 

The minister was accompanied by his permanent secretary, Ms Grace Muzila, deputy permanent secretary, Dr Tshepo Machacha and other ministry senior officials. Ends