23 Oct 2023

Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH) is committed to providing sustainable and compassionate patient-centred care that will build stakeholder trust through collaborations and network.

SKMTH acting commissioning manager, Dr Kagiso Ndlovu said on October 20, when presenting on the hospital’s mandate, commisioning plan and value proposition, during a tour of the hospital by members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi.

Ntlo ya Dikgosi, led by chairperson, Kgosi Puso Gaborone visited the hospital to appreciate services offered at the state-of-the-art government owned facility, as well as its challenges.

“This is the first quaternary healthcare facility, in the country, whose mandate is to close gaps in the training, clinical research and provision of specialised services,” said Dr Ndlovu.

He said the hospital was a referral facility that accepted patients who required services at quaternary level and accepted various funders and medical aids, to ensure access to quality healthcare for all patients. 

Additionally, he said, SKMTH also assisted self-referred and self-paying patients who seek expert care.

During the visit, members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi also had an opportunity to tour operational units, which such as; Radiology, Neurology, Pharmacy, Adult, Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Radiation Oncology and Theatre Services.

Dr Ndlovu informed members that on September 18, paediatric medical ward inpatients, from Princess Marina Referral Hospital, were relocated to SKMTH to pave way for renovations, which were expected to continue until July 31, 2024.

For long term, he said the 450-bed SKMTH was envisaged to be a centre of excellence for certain services, such as; Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Critical Care Centre, Cardiovascular Centre, Trauma and Burn Centre, Renal and Organ Transplant enyre and Ophthalmology Centre.

Other services, he said included General Services, Allied Health Services, Specialist Services, Various Subspecialties, Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

In his remarks, Kgosi Puso, of Batlokwa commended government for building a hospital licensed to operate as a private hospital.

“By building a hospital of this magnitude that receives referrals, from both public and private healthcare providers, for patients needing services at quaternary level, on its own shows government’s committed to providing equal access to quality healthcare services to Batswana,” he said.

Kgosi Puso also applauded SKMTH’s management and staff for having successfully performed the first spinal surgeries on September 27, following the opening of the hospital’s surgical services. 

The spinal surgeries were performed by a team of both local and international surgical care professionals.

Ntlo Ya Dikgosi deputy, Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe, who is also Mahalapye chief expressed gratitude to SKMTH management and staff for their hospitality and encouraged them to remain steadfast in their commitment to deliver quality healthcare services. Ends