09 Jul 2025

Members of Parliament have supported a bill aimed at regulating medical aid fund administrators, brokers, and managed care organisations in Botswana. 

The proposed bill presented by Vice President and Minister of Finance, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe seeks to strengthen oversight in the medical aid sector to ensure the protection of fund members and improve the financial stability of health-related financial institutions. 

The bill, that gained widespread backing across party lines, was presented to address long-standing concerns about rising healthcare costs, lack of transparency, and potential exploitation of members within the medical aid system as well as proposes mandatory medical insurance coverage for all citizens in an effort to improve the country’s healthcare. 

Several MPs hailed the bill as a timely intervention to restore public trust and improve governance in the medical insurance sector. Kanye West MP, Mr Victor Phologolo commended the bill, stating that it has the potential to significantly improve access to quality healthcare. 

Mr Phologolo emphasised that medical aid plays a crucial role in protecting citizens from exorbitant healthcare costs. He nevertheless raised a concern that many people pay out of their pockets and then urged to claim expenses from medical aid, emphasising the need for a well-regulated sector that prioritised patient welfare over profit. 

Maun West MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama also endorsed the bill, noting its importance in strengthening health services, especially for vulnerable populations. “This bill aims to ensure mandatory medical insurance that will include the poor Batswana, many of whom still do not have access to adequate healthcare,” he said. 

He said the bill should cover even people who stayed at the fields and cattle posts who currently were not even aware of what medical aid meant, adding that the bill should be concerned about extending medical aid to all people. 

MP for Tswapong North, Mr Prince Maele also lent his support but raised concerns over brokers involved in the medical insurance process. He cautioned that without proper regulation, brokers might drive up costs and exploit the system. “We must also regulate foreign medical aid providers to protect our citizens from unfair practices,” he added. 

Echoing similar sentiments, MP David Tshire of Mahalapye West highlighted the need to address the dual role of some medical aid providers who both administered policies and delivered services. “There is often price manipulation where the same company manages the insurance and provides the treatment,” he warned. 

He said the bill should include clauses to prevent price manipulation, unethical practices, and conflicts of interest, particularly where entities administer and provide medical services under the same umbrella. While also in agreement with the bill, Kgatleng West MP, Dr Unity Dow said the broader health system needed urgent attention before a focus on insurance could be meaningful. 

“There are no beds, no medicines, no blankets in our hospitals, we cannot talk about medical aid while the system is in crisis,” she said. 

She said there was need to fix public health system. MP for Tlokweng, Mr Phenyo Segokgo, another supporter, raised a point about equity and fairness within the medical aid framework. “People are paying high premiums, yet some never use the services, there should be a mechanism to compensate such individuals,” he said. 

He called for cash back among those that found themselves paying, yet did no use medical aid. ENDS