Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana has taken a major step toward improving healthcare access and drug quality. On Wednesday, the country signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Pharmacopeial Cooperation with the Republic of India. The agreement aims to make quality and affordable medicines more accessible to Batswana.
The signing took place during the State Visit of Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu, President of India. The visit marks a significant milestone in Botswana-India relations, as it is the first ever by an Indian Head of State to Botswana.
President Duma Boko described the visit as historic and praised the agreement as a reflection of the two nations’ shared goal of ensuring that every citizen has access to safe, effective, and affordable healthcare.
The MoU focuses on strengthening collaboration between Botswana’s regulatory authorities and India’s pharmacopeial institutions. It will enable the exchange of expertise, capacity building, and joint research in pharmaceutical standards. The cooperation will also help Botswana align its drug quality benchmarks with global standards, ensuring the safety and efficacy of medicines distributed across the country.
India, known as the “pharmacy of the world,” plays a leading role in global medicine production and distribution. Partnering with India allows Botswana to benefit from India’s advanced pharmaceutical infrastructure and scientific expertise. The initiative is expected to reduce medicine costs, enhance local pharmaceutical testing, and improve access to essential drugs in public health facilities.
President Boko emphasized that the partnership extends beyond health. Botswana and India continue to deepen ties in education, trade, agriculture, and technology. The two nations have long enjoyed diplomatic relations built on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared development goals.
The visit by President Murmu and the signing of the MoU underscore a future of stronger collaboration. Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to advancing people-centered development that leaves no one behind.
With this agreement, Botswana positions itself to strengthen its healthcare system, ensure medicine quality, and build a more resilient health infrastructure. The Botswana-India partnership now stands as a model of South-South cooperation focused on innovation, equity, and shared prosperity.
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