10 Mar 2026

Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse, has called on Members of Parliament to embrace the envisaged National Health Insurance (NHI) as a vital initiative aimed at improving healthcare delivery. 

Replying to a debate on the Ministry of Health’s 2026/27 budget request on Monday, Mr Ookeditse said MPs should prepare to contribute to the NHI Bill. He described the bill as a strategic reform designed to advance universal health coverage and reduce waiting times for patients requiring specialised services.

He noted that the NHI was also designed for all citizens to ensure that the less privileged could access private facilities. Mr Ookeditse also refuted allegations that the NHI was a move to privatise public clinics, clarifying that it would instead help government expand existing services.

“Of course, some private facilities registered with government will benefit from the NHI,” he added.

Regarding malaria in the Ngami region, the assistant minister stated that government had made significant strides through consistent provision of mosquito nets. He also assured MPs that the availability of medicine would improve through modernisation of procurement value chains. 

He further acknowledged the importance of insourcing critical services in the country’s most remote areas. During the budget debate, several MPs raised localised concerns with Mr Phillimon Aaron of Ngami highlighting challenges in primary healthcare, particularly lack of ambulances in areas such as Gumare, Xangwa, Chukumuchu, Gudigwa and Mogotho.

He urged government to expedite the fight against malaria. He also wanted to know when the long-promised Gumare District Hospital would be built. MP for Boteti West, Mr Sam Digwa complained that despite having 14 health facilities, the region had only three clinics with maternity wings. 

He called for the upgrading of the Kedia health facility into a full clinic. Letlhakeng MP, Brigadier Domcaza Mokgwathi, called for special dispensation for his constituency, which he argued was disadvantaged in healthcare delivery. 

He advocated for a primary hospital in Letlhakeng to serve Kweneng West and suggested integrating traditional medicines to boost health and the economy. Serowe North legislator, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe hailed government’s move toward direct medicine purchasing. He expressed satisfaction with the Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital services but called for a dialysis unit at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital. 

MP Jeremiah Frenzel of Shashe West, reported that laundry machines at the Mabesekwa health post had remained non-operational since installation. 

He requested that health posts be open for at least half a day on weekends and receive adequate staffing. Charleshill MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai noted steady improvement in healthcare but raised concerns regarding professional conduct and ethics (Botho) among some health sector employees. 

Kanye East legislator, Mr Prince Mosanana called for the upgrading of the Molapowabojang clinic and lamented that Kanye’s single 24-hour clinic was overwhelmed. He also highlighted shortage of doctors and pharmacists at the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Hospital. MP for Moshupa-Manyana, Mr Karabo Gare, supported the budget but urged for better ambulance provision in difficult terrains. 

He emphasised that primary healthcare must be prioritised to ensure that hospitals had basic supplies for common illnesses before expanding elsewhere. Subsequently, Parliament approved the budget estimates for the Ministry of Health amounting to P8.1 billion and P653.9 million under the recurrent and development budgets respectively. BOPA