Botswana declares Public Health Emergency amid widespread drug shortage
by Mathipa Phishego
Botswana has declared a national public health emergency following a critical shortage of essential medicines and surgical supplies. With hospitals across the country suspending non-urgent procedures and patients unable to access life-saving treatments.
President Duma Boko, addressing the nation earlier this week acknowledged the severity of the crisis and announced urgent measures to stabilize the country’s fragile healthcare system. “The medical supply chain has failed, this is no longer a routine procurement issue this is a national emergency,” President Boko said in a televised statement.
Hospitals and clinics in both urban and rural areas have reported running out of basic medications for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, cancer, and mental health disorders. Surgical materials, including dressings, sutures, and anesthesia, are also in dangerously short supply.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that non-urgent surgeries had been temporarily suspended and some clinics were forced to turn patients away due to the lack of supplies. At the center of the crisis is Central Medical Stores (CMS), Botswana’s state-run procurement agency.
President Boko revealed that CMS had submitted grossly inflated cost estimates for the annual medicine supply more than 705 million pula. While an emergency task force was able to source the same items for under 80 million pula. Boko said, “the current prices often are inflated five to ten times and under the current economic conditions. This scenario is not sustainable.”
The government has allocated 250 million pula (approximately $17 million) to urgently procure essential medications. The Botswana Defence Force has been tasked with managing logistics and distribution to ensure the emergency supplies reach all regions.
Health Minister Dr. Lesego Sebetlela said that the intervention is necessary to prevent further deterioration of public health services. “We are dealing with a situation that threatens lives on a national scale. The president’s swift response is aimed at preventing total collapse,” she said.
Botswana’s economy, heavily reliant on diamond exports. Has been hit hard by falling global demand and competition from lab-grown diamonds. This downturn has severely limited public spending capacity.
Additionally, cuts in international health aid including reductions from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Have further strained the country’s health system.
Progress in HIV/AIDS Underscores Resilience
Despite the crisis, Botswana continues to be praised for its progress in fighting HIV/AIDS. In 2025, the country received WHO’s Gold Tier certification for virtually eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission, achieving a rate of less than 1%.
The unfolding health crisis marks the first major domestic emergency for President Boko since taking office. His administration has pledged sweeping reforms in public procurement and greater transparency in health spending. “We must ensure that this never happens again, every pula must count toward saving lives,” Boko concluded.
