27 Sep 2023

A new strategy to facilitate the effective and efficient procurement of medical supplies and commodities in the country has been launched.

The strategy, known as the National Supply Chain Strategy for Health Commodities, was launched by Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti on September 26.

Dr Dikoloti said the strategy would facilitate an effective and efficient procurement of medical supplies and commodities in the country. He said  it was designed to provide strategic direction in the procurement and management of health commodities.

“The strategy sets a common vision and proposes policies and interventions that address systemic challenges,” he said, adding that it also defined activities required to optimise supply chain and the coordination of stakeholders and their roles.

Minister Dikoloti expressed appreciation to the United States Agency for International Development for its  support in developing the strategy.

He said any significant improvement in the supply chain management of health commodities would inevitably lead to better health outcomes and a more resilient and responsive health system.

The minister also noted that despite the relatively high demand for Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARVs) in the country, supply chains rarely experienced challenges in ensuring medicine availability for all those who needed them.

“This is due to a robust quantification and event management for ARVs by our health system,” said the minister, adding that the ministry intended to leverage on lessons learnt from the ARVs experience to improve supply chain management for other essential medicines, such as those for non-communicable diseases.

In her welcome remarks, Ministry of Health deputy permanent secretary, Dr Onalenna Kgokgwe said the strategy was a result of extensive collaboration and hard work by many dedicated individuals and organisations.

She said the strategy would strengthen the country’s health supply chain and improve the availability of health commodities as well as enhance health outcomes for patients.

Dr Kgokgwe also said it was not just a strategy, but a commitment to the health and well-being of Batswana and a testament of their dedication to ensuring that every citizen had access to essential health commodities when they needed them.

She expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the development of the strategy, saying its successful implementation required continued commitment and collaboration of all stakeholders.

She also urged stakeholders to make the strategy a success for the benefit of citizens and the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The American Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Howard Van Vranken said the five-year strategy would be the guiding document to ensure better access to the right health commodities, at the right time, with the right people and to deliver quality health care.

Supply chain, he said, was one of the key priorities in ensuring access to quality health care through the provision of medicines and medical products, both globally and locally.

He said the USA looked forward to continuing its collaboration with Botswana to support and strengthen supply chain management for health commodities and for improving health outcomes for citizens.

“Our support is intended to ensure the supply chain continues to be robust, efficient and sustainable,” he said. ENDS