06 Jun 2023

The Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, on Monday undertook a familiarisation tour of a local bio-technology company that is wholly owned by citizens.

The firm – Floritec Investment, which trades as Sylike Medicals – manufactures a range of medical devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products. Dr Dikoloti said he undertook the visit to see the company’s facilities and appreciate its operations.

Giving a brief background of the company’s profile after the tour, Floritec Investment’s quality assurance manager and business developer, Mr Morris Makepe, explained that it started production of Virus Collection and Transport Medium (VTM) kits in 2021, whilst it commenced local production of its flagship products, being the full range of Blood Collection Tubes (BCT), last year.

Mr Makepe indicated that the company’s local market includes government entities, private pathology laboratories, private and public hospitals, and veterinary laboratories. He said to date they have exported to Malawi, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, while plans are afoot to export to other African markets.

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a gap in testing, not only in Botswana, but throughout the world. Our high quality medical devices will help to change the situation in Botswana for the better,” Makepe said. Ends