Tuesday, 27 October 2026

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Tuesday, 27 October 2026

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Botswanan press · Organization

Ministry of Health

Also known as: Ministry of Health in Botswana

Botswanan government ministry responsible for health policy, service delivery, and national health initiatives including the National Health Insurance Policy and digital health systems.

2026-05-052026-10-27

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Ministry of Health

Every mention in the Botswanan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

October 2026
21 OctDaily News Botswana
… ational launch of the system in Thamaga recently, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Christopher Gunning said the investment, made since 2023, supported the development of the system, training of users across the country and the establishment of dashboards at the Ministry of Health …
US invests over US4.3m in digital community health system
14 OctThe Botswana Gazette
Serowe South MP Leepetswe Lesedi has turned up the heat on the Ministry of Health, where fellow BPF legislator Lawrence Ookeditse serves as Assistant Minister, over the government’s handling of persistent medicine shortages SESUPO RANTSIMAKO A rift has emerged between Botswana Pa …
BPF Blasts UDC Over Meds Crisis
2 OctThe Botswana Gazette
CMS figures put average availability of vital, essential and necessary medicines at 42 percent as the Ministry of Health targets 97 percent availability by December. …
Medicine Stocks Stuck at 42 Percent
September 2026
28 SeptBotswana Sunday Standard
… Government Notice No. 742 of 2024 transferred clinics and public health functions to the ministry responsible for local government, while primary hospitals stayed outside; NHI design remains with the Ministry of Health (Government of Botswana, 2026). …
More Than an Insurance Card: Botswana’s Primary Health Care Experiment
28 SeptDaily News Botswana
… The government of the day then established the Food and Nutrition Unit within the Ministry of Health in the early 1970s, to design programmes to monitor nutrition, it further sates. …
Botswana records gains in reducing child malnutrition
21 SeptBotswana Sunday Standard
… In April 2025, the government moved primary health care out of the Ministry of Health and into the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs. …
The Ministry Gap: Why Botswana’s NHI Needs to Reckon with Its Fiscal Architecture
9 SeptDaily News Botswana
… Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Neo Tapela said revamping the facility was about renewing the commitment to the dignity, wellbeing, mental health and recovery of young patients. …
Mental health education core
2 SeptDaily News Botswana
… He said to address the challenge further, government had allocated P140 million to the Ministry of Health, a sum that he explained would be distributed to districts. …
Botswana economy on recovery path
August 2026
31 AugDaily News Botswana
Access to emergency medical care in Botswana’s hard-to-reach areas is set for a major boost after the Ministry of Health handed over six state-of-the-art ambulances to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs. …
Six New Ambulances to Boost Emergency Care in Remote Areas
30 AugBotswana Sunday Standard
… Since then, Parliament has unanimously adopted the National Health Insurance Policy on the 19th August 2026, and the Ministry of Health has announced a ten-year partnership with Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS) covering medicines, medical products and wider health-system co …
From policy promise to system readiness: What Botswana must build for National Health Insurance to succeed

Society

US invests $4.3m in Botswana digital health information system

The News

The US government has invested more than $4.3 million since 2023 in Botswana's Digital Community Health Information System (IKITSE), which enables real-time collection, management and analysis of community health data. The investment includes support for system development, user training, dashboards at the Ministry of Health, satellite internet devices, tablets and equipment to strengthen community health services.

21 October 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Wednesday 21 October

US invests $4.3m in Botswana digital health information system
The US government has invested more than $4.3 million since 2023 in Botswana's Digital Community Health Information System (IKITSE), which enables real-time collection, management and analysis of community health data. The investment includes support for system development, user training, dashboards at the Ministry of Health, satellite internet devices, tablets and equipment to strengthen community health services.
21 October 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Wednesday 14 October

BPF MP criticises health ministry over medicine shortages
Serowe South MP Leepetswe Lesedi has criticized the Ministry of Health over the government's handling of persistent medicine shortages, creating a rift with fellow BPF legislator Lawrence Ookeditse, who serves as Assistant Minister of Health.
14 October 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →

Friday 2 October

Medicine availability stuck at 42 percent in Botswana
Central Medical Stores data shows average availability of vital, essential and necessary medicines at 42 percent, with the Ministry of Health targeting 97 percent availability by December.
2 October 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →

Monday 28 September

Botswana's NHI policy must clarify funding roles across institutions
Botswana's National Health Insurance policy is structurally built on primary health care with a costed benefit package and phased pilots, but practical coordination gaps remain unresolved. Government Notice No. 742 of 2024 transferred clinics to the local government ministry while primary hospitals and NHI design stayed with the Health ministry, creating ambiguity over who funds clinic operations and supervises referrals while claims are pending.
28 September 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana reduces child undernutrition prevalence since 2000
Botswana has lowered underweight prevalence among children under five to less than 10 per cent and stunting from 30 per cent in 2000 to 21 per cent in 2017, after establishing a Food and Nutrition Unit in the early 1970s.
28 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Monday 21 September

Botswana's NHI split between ministries risks implementation, analysis warns
An opinion piece argues that Botswana's National Health Insurance, being designed in the Ministry of Health, faces institutional friction because primary health care was moved to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs in April 2025. The author calls for clarity on consultation processes and questions whether the government has completed foundational stages beyond legislation.
21 September 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →

Wednesday 9 September

First Lady calls for mental health education to address youth issues
First Lady Kaone Boko has called for public education on mental health and early interventions, saying parents and guardians need guidance to identify early behavioural changes in adolescents that could lead to mental health conditions and substance abuse. She launched a revamped adolescent ward and therapeutic garden at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital in Lobatse, emphasizing the need for parents to pay attention to children's emotional and psychological wellbeing.
9 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Wednesday 2 September

Botswana economy grows 3.5 per cent in first quarter 2025
Botswana's economy registered 3.5 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2025, attributed to increased diamond sales and cost containment measures. The MP for Francistown South noted that diamond sales rose from P100 million in July 2024 to P300 million in July 2025, and highlighted that the country's foreign reserves stand at P51 billion.
2 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Monday 31 August

Ministry of Health delivers six ambulances to remote areas
The Ministry of Health handed over six state-of-the-art ambulances to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs to improve emergency medical care in Botswana's remote districts, with the goal of reducing emergency response times and improving maternal healthcare access. Minister of Health Dr Stephen Modise noted that the country's maternal mortality rate of 176.6 deaths per 100,000 live births is alarming and requires improved access to timely medical care.
31 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Sunday 30 August

Botswana adopts National Health Insurance Policy, partners with Abu Dhabi
Parliament unanimously adopted the National Health Insurance Policy on 19 August 2026, and the Ministry of Health announced a ten-year partnership with Abu Dhabi Health Data Services covering medicines, medical products, digital health, genomics and supply-chain support. The Minister of Health framed NHI as a question of dignity and equity, ensuring people can obtain quality care regardless of where they live or what they earn.
30 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →

Friday 28 August

Palapye landowners invited to review draft valuation roll
Palapye District Council is urging property owners to review and comment on a draft valuation roll between August 7 and September 4, 2026 via an online platform, with the final roll targeted for September subject to processing public input.
28 August 2026 · Mmegi →

Thursday 20 August

El Niño threatens severe heat-related health crisis in Botswana
An 80% likelihood of a strong El Niño event is expected to bring soaring temperatures and prolonged dry spells to Botswana in the 2026/27 season, raising alarm among government and health experts over severe health risks including heat-related illnesses and water scarcity.
20 August 2026 · Weekend Post →

Thursday 13 August

Botswana records 41,000 deaths over five years
Botswana's Births and Deaths Registration System logged nearly 41,000 deaths between mid-2021 and mid-2026, with yearly figures ranging from 7,346 to 8,861 and average ages at death fluctuating between 67 and 79 years. The data was presented to Parliament by the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, raising questions about healthcare system challenges and the causes of death.
13 August 2026 · Weekend Post →

Thursday 6 August

Botswana must prioritize science, prevention for future strength
Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe told the US CDC-Botswana 30th Anniversary Science Summit that Botswana should be shaped by prevention, preparedness and science-driven delivery over the next 30 years, with focus on strengthening scientific capacity, reinforcing institutions and building a self-reliant economy through stronger disease surveillance, investment in health workers, and African capacity to research and manufacture diagnostics and vaccines.
6 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Monday 27 July

Parliamentary inquiry into Botswana's nationwide drug shortages
A parliamentary hearing saw Lobatse MP Kamal Jacobs demand accountability from health officials over persistent medicine stock-outs in public facilities, blaming administrative failures at the Central Medical Stores and questioning whether its acting director has the capacity to resolve procurement and distribution challenges. The Ministry of Health defended the appointment and stated efforts are underway to stabilize medicine supply chains, as the country's public healthcare system faces renewed scrutiny over shortages affecting patients with chronic illnesses and emergency care needs.
27 July 2026 · Weekend Post →

Monday 6 July

China donates P180,000 medical equipment to Botswana
The Chinese Embassy donated medical equipment worth P180,000 to Botswana's Ministry of Health to strengthen healthcare capacity, including monitors, defibrillators, and syringe pumps. The donation was announced during ceremonies for the 17th and 18th China Medical Teams, alongside new health cooperation initiatives including a hospital partnership and cataract surgery project.
6 July 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Chinese medical team's farewell marks partnership milestone
The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health commended the 17th Chinese Medical Team for improving access to specialised healthcare and strengthening Botswana's health workforce. The team, comprising 28 medical specialists and 11 nurses, provided over 300,000 medical consultations and treatments during its assignment, and was officially replaced by the 18th China medical team.
6 July 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Friday 26 June

St. George's University to honour 130 Botswana graduates in Gaborone
St. George's University will host a ceremony in Gaborone as part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations to recognise over 130 Botswana physicians trained at the institution, many of whom work in the Ministry of Health and private clinical practice.
26 June 2026 · Mmegi →

Thursday 18 June

Motitinti's spoken word artistry preserves Setswana oral traditions
Dikeletso Nkgaswa, known as Motitinti, is a spoken-word poet whose Setswana performances use vivid imagery and rhythmic language to engage audiences and preserve oral traditions. His poetry journey began in Standard Three at Tshekedi Primary School in 1994, when a schoolteacher encouraged him to perform a Setswana recitation.
18 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Monday 15 June

Opinion: Ministry of Health's blame-shifting over medication shortages
The Sunday Standard editorial criticizes the Ministry of Health's pattern of blaming others for medication shortages, citing prior accusations against the Central Medical Stores and manufacturers without addressing systemic issues.
15 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →

Wednesday 10 June

Ministry confirms isolated Ebola screening refusals at border
The Ministry of Health has encountered instances of travellers refusing Ebola screening at Tlokweng Border Post, but says the cases remain isolated and the situation is under control with awareness efforts ongoing.
10 June 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →

Thursday 4 June

Employment and Labour Relations Act takes effect July 2026
Botswana's new Employment and Labour Relations Act of 2025 will come into force on July 1, 2026, consolidating previously fragmented labour laws into a single framework. The legislation modernizes worker rights, aligns with international standards, limits fixed-term contracts to 12 months unless objectively justified, and requires employers to sign contracts with all employees including domestic and farm workers.
4 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Wednesday 3 June

Ombudsman to brief nation on Ministry of Health response
Ombudsman Stephen Tiroyakgosi says he will soon brief the nation on the government's response to the health crisis once commitments from the Ministry of Health have been consolidated.
3 June 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →

Monday 1 June

Health official warns of rising non-communicable diseases in children
Dr Christopher Nyanga, Chief public relations officer in the Ministry of Health, attributed increasing diagnoses of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular complications and cancers in children to unhealthy diets, obesity and sedentary lifestyles shaped by technology use.
1 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Thursday 28 May

Botswana intensifies Ebola screening for all incoming travellers
Botswana's Ministry of Health has introduced new screening measures for all incoming travellers, including temperature checks and screening for Ebola symptoms, with particular focus on those who have visited the DRC, Uganda, or other Ebola-affected areas within the past 21 days. Symptomatic travellers will be isolated and transported to designated health facilities, and the public has been advised to avoid non-essential travel to affected regions and practise strict hygiene measures.
28 May 2026 · Mmegi →

Sunday 24 May

Botswana faces Ebola importation risk via regional transport routes
The Ministry of Health has warned of risks of Ebola importation following fresh outbreaks of Bundibugyo Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
24 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →

Saturday 16 May

Ministry of Health defends polio vaccination campaign against misinformation
The Ministry of Health has addressed public concern and misinformation about Botswana's nationwide oral polio vaccination campaign, asserting that the exercise is safe and necessary to strengthen protection against polio.
16 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →

Monday 11 May

Ministry of Health responds to Ombudsman's report on public health sector
The Ministry of Health has submitted a response to the Ombudsman's report on failures in Botswana's public health sector, proposing measures to address the service delivery gaps identified in the report.
11 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →

Tuesday 5 May

Edison Setlhomo Masizi Memorial Hospital nears completion after delays
The P457 million, 70-bed Edison Setlhomo Masizi Memorial Hospital is approaching completion after four years of delay beyond its original May 2022 handover date, with construction now reported at 99 percent and equipment arriving, though the project has been marked by poor workmanship including structural defects.
5 May 2026 · Weekend Post →