30 Jul 2023

The backlog in patient operations is caused by shortage of medical specialists in public health facilities.

Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti explained in Parliament that the shortage of specialists resulted from doctors leaving the public healthcare system to join the private sector.

Dr Dikoloti said the ministry had resorted to referring patients to the private facilities in order to prevent delays in management of illnesses. 

He said that resulted with government incurring a escalation in medical fees to approximately P1.2 billion annually.

As a long-term solution to the challenge, Dr Dikoloti said the ministry was in the process of training more specialists.

“Meanwhile, we are improving our health facilities while we engage private specialists to perform their operations in our facilities. This strategy is bearing fruit. Operations that used to cost us roughly P100 000 per patient, we are now paying less than 10 per cent. This has also enabled us to concentrate on surgical backlogs,” he said.

He also said the ministry was working with various private accredited laboratories for specific needs. To that effect, he said the Botswana Harvard Partnership was helping in genomic sequencing of coronavirus while the national health laboratory was still building capacity in that area.

“We also have a three-year contract with Diagnofirm and Optimum Laboratories for specialised testing,” he said.

Dr Dikoloti said the ministry was already reaping benefits of engaging private specialists in actively tackling the backlogs, pointing that 84 orthopedic operations were performed in Mahalapye last month through the engagement of such specialists.

He further said the ministry was working on a health financing strategy, expected to be completed in September.

Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga had asked the minister to state the problems causing delays in operations and giving out medications in public health facilities. 

He also wanted the minister to state the strategy in place to revitalise the health system and to bring it back to its days of being a health destination of choice. Ends