19 Feb 2023

The Central Medical Stores (CMS) is expecting supply of insulin which has been scarce in government hospitals across the country.

Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe revealed this when responding to a question in Parliament on Thursday.

He therefore encouraged hospitals to procure moderately.

The assistant minister acknowledged shortage of diabetes medication across the country, particularly Lantus, which he said was a challenge to source in the right quantities because it was a fast moving item.

“Nyangabwe Referral Hospital has been experiencing limited stocks of diabetes medication. However the hospital implemented measures to address the situation especially various forms of insulin which has been sourced in various quantities,” Mr Lelatisitswe said.

On deaths due to lack of medication, Mr Lelatisitswe said the ministry was not aware that diabetes and hypertension patients were dying in large numbers.

He however said, since November last year, three patients assessed at Nyangabwe Referral Hospital died due to diabetes-related complications which translated to 1.7 per cent mortalities in the country.

“Globally, diabetes deaths translated to 11.3 per cent and 6.8 per cent in Africa, therefore it cannot be concluded that patients are dying in large numbers in Botswana,” he said.

Additionally, Mr Lelatisitswe said the ministry was not aware that cancer and low blood patients were dying due to lack of medication.

“There are a number of reasons why a patient may die and with cancer it might be due to late diagnosis and treatment, poor lifestyle as well as poor access to oncology services in the process resulting in complications, and many other factors,” he explained.

Regarding low blood patients, Mr Lelatisitswe said deaths may not necessarily be due to lack of medication as a number of diseases can cause anaemia in patients. 

He said in severe cases a patient can be saved by blood transfusion.

Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane had asked the minister if he was aware of the shortage of diabetes medication, especially insulin, in government hospitals across the country.

MP Moswaane had argued that diabetes, cancer, hypertension and low blood pressure patients were dying in large numbers due to lack of medication. Ends