Gaborone, Botswana – Botswana has declared a health emergency as the country faces a critical shortage of medicines and medical supplies, leaving hospitals and clinics struggling to treat patients with conditions ranging from cancer to diabetes. The crisis has led to the postponement of all non-urgent surgeries.
The health ministry has attributed the crisis to financial challenges. President Dumo Boko has also cited rising procurement costs and inefficiencies in the distribution system, which he said have resulted in losses, waste, and damage to medical stock.
In response, the finance ministry has approved 250 million pula, equivalent to around $17.35 million, in emergency funding for medical supplies. The country’s national budget has been under pressure this year, largely due to a prolonged downturn in the global diamond market, a key sector for Botswana’s economy.
The situation comes amid reports of a cut in health funding from the United States, though the connection between this and the current crisis remains unconfirmed.
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