20 Dec 2022

Government has planned to construct new hospitals over the period of the Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) and some of the existing facilities will be upgraded, the Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti has said.

Speaking on Monday while delivering the Public Investment Programme (PIP) estimates for his ministry’s budget during the TNDP period, Dr Dikoloti said government had proposed the construction of hospitals at Kanye, Letlhakane and Kasane.

TNDP period will cover the next two government financial years starting April 2023 and ending March 2025.

He said a total of P759 million would be budgeted for the construction, maintenance and refurbishment of hospitals.

This would include ongoing projects such as the completion of the Shakawe and Moshupa primary hospitals, as well as associated staff houses, completion of the refurbishment works at the old Maun and Scottish Livingstone (Molepolole) hospitals as well as completing design works and construction of the Tutume and Gumare hospitals and housing units. “Furthermore, construction of

Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BOMRA) Laboratory and Offices will commence while remedial works will be undertaken at Rakops Operating Theatre,” he said.

He revealed that the Palapye, Bobonong and Deborah Retief Memorial hospitals would be upgraded while there would also be a refurbishment of Princess Marina and Nyangabgwe referral hospitals as well as the Athlone and Sbrana Psychiatric both in Lobatse, Selebi Phikwe and Mmadinare hospitals.

Other infrastructure upgrades would be undertaken for the expansion of the Francistown TB Laboratory and the Ghanzi Hospital Laboratory.

The larger sum of an estimated P1.166 billion was proposed for primary healthcare services, with emphasis on completing the ongoing construction of clinics and upgrading health posts to clinics without maternity services.

He said the funds would also be used for the construction of primary hospitals level 1 at Tsabong, Tonota, Shoshong and Lerala.  In addition, medical equipment, furniture, ambulances and staff houses will be provided to make the facilities fully operational,” Dr Dikoloti said.

He added that his ministry would require P113 million for their Information and Communications Technology (ICT) plan, which has started with the implementation of the e-Health Strategy, and the ongoing establishment of a centralised Electronic Medical Records System that would enable clinicians to access patients’ records irrespective of location.

“Another project that has started and needs to be consolidated is the Quality Information Management System whilst new projects include the Digitisation of Health Services project and ICT Infrastructure development,” he said. Dr Dikoloti said in order to facilitate smooth transportation of drugs and medical supplies between health facilities, and the referral of patients between health facilities, his ministry would seek P40 million over the period to procure a different fleet of vehicles such as ambulances, mini-buses, pick-ups and saloon cars.

In order to procure specialist services and consultancy from the private sector and development partners, Dr Dikoloti said his ministry proposed P 4.2 million to facilitate development of a Health Financing Strategy, health care standards and to conduct research on the impact COVID-19 pandemic and the strengthening of the health system as well as health security among other targets.

Dr Dikoloti proposed a total estimated cost of approximately P2 billion to be approved for programmes and projects for his ministry under the TNDP. ENDS