11 Mar 2026

Nyangabwe Referral Hospital, the healthcare facility serving the northern part of the country, is grappling with a severe shortage of essential drugs, putting patients and staff at risk.

A recent tour of the hospital by Francistown councillors, led by Mayor Gaone Majere, revealed the dire situation, with deputy head of pharmacy, Fatima Sinkala, attributing the shortage to the hospital’s high demand and rapid depletion of supplies.

At the antenatal ward, Dr Kudra Chobanga highlighted the challenges faced by patients and staff, including unavailability of essential drugs and expensive theatre consumables, forcing patients to purchase medications themselves.

Hospital Superintendent, Dr Ivan Kgetse, revealed that the hospital receives the highest number of patients in the country, with its 546-bed capacity often stretched to accommodate up to 600 patients. He emphasised that building another hospital was not the solution, stressing the need for effective management of resources and equipment.

He further said the blood bank was expected to be empty by the end of the month, currently standing at 66 per cent. 

For his part, Mayor Majere pledged to work towards finding solutions to the hospital’s challenges, acknowledging that both patients and doctors were at risk due to the shortage.

Mr Majere also said the visit  has sparked a call to action, urging authorities to address the crisis and ensure the hospital receives the necessary support to provide quality healthcare services. BOPA