Africa-Press – Botswana. Government is doing everything to ensure patients, especially those with chronic conditions, receive treatment, despite supply shortages, Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe, told a kgotla meeting in Serowe on September 22.
For example, he said, his ministry had fast-tracked the rollout of chronic medication dispensing programme, which made it possible for patients from government health facilities to get drugs from private practitioners and institutions.
Mr Lelatisitswe said drug shortage was largely attributable to the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent worldwide restrictions which were imposed to combat it.
“It [resulted in a] huge disruption in the medication supply chain system the world over,” he said adding Central Medical Stores (CMS), the main supplier of drugs and clinical supplies to government, consequently experienced low or no supply. Low production resulted in greater demand for pharmaceuticals, leading to a doubling or even tripling of prices.
“The net effect for developing countries like Botswana, which do not manufacture any medications, is the serious shortage of medications that we are currently experiencing,” he said, adding the situation was worrisome as it put patients’ lives in jeopardy.
In addition, the availability of some drugs in world markets was already low and prices spiked when COVID-19 struck, causing further procurement and supply delays, he said. Noticeably, there was a spike in demand and use of drugs for chronic diseases, resulting in further shortage.
The assistant minister pleaded for understanding, saying delay in delivery of drugs and health services was compounded by the fact that most of the ministry’s vehicles broke down due to overuse during the pandemic.
Regarding shortage of specialists, Mr Lelatisitswe said the ministry had sent 300 doctors and nurses for specialist training outside the coutry.
Moreover, government had signed an agreement with Cuba to assist with specialists to tackle the backlog in the meantime, and the Cubans had been providing the assistance since the outbreak of COVID-19.
He said the specialist would provide their services to patients in various districts as per schedule. Earlier on, the chairperson of the umbrella Village Development Committee,Mr Teko Thokweng, had complained that Sekgoma Memorial Hospital (SMH), was overdue for maintenance as could be seen from falling ceiling and broken pipes.
Mr Thokweng said the hospital was experiencing staff shortage, including doctors.
He called for replacement of lazy nurses., and appealed to the Ministry to upgrade some clinics in the village to 24-hour facilities, so as to reduce congestion at SMH.
Member of Parliament for Serowe North, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe said the population of the village had outgrown existing health facilities, and asked the Ministry to build additional clinics.
He added that clinics in his area needed major maintenance, emphasising their state of disrepair was a demotivator to nurses.
dailynews.gov.bw
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