Botswana Minute.
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Botswana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Gaborone—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Botswanan press · Organization

Ministry of Health

Organization responsible for Botswana's public healthcare system, currently addressing medicine shortages and disease prevention efforts.

2026-05-052026-07-28

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026
  2. Weekend Post

    The Ministry of Health, however, defended the appointment of Dr. Paramadhas and maintained that efforts are underway to stabilize medicine supply chains.

    CMS exposed as drug shortages spread nationwide
  3. Daily News Botswana

    To strengthen Botswana’s healthcare capacity and improve patient care, the Chinese Embassy has donated medical equipment worth P180,000 to the Ministry of Health.

    China donates medical equipment worth P180 000
  4. Daily News Botswana

    The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Tshepo Machacha, has expressed gratitude for the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by successive Chinese Medical Teams.

    Machacha commends Chinese medical teams
  5. June 2026
  6. Mmegi

    The ceremony serves as a formal recognition of over 130 Botswana physicians trained at SGU, many of whom now occupy critical roles within the Ministry of Health and private clinical practice.Through hosting the event in Gaborone, SGU acknowledges the importance of the African phy

    St. George’s University to host special ceremony in Gaborone
  7. Daily News Botswana

    He has also performed at the Ministry of Health’s drug, alcohol, and behavioural awareness campaigns in Mahalapye, as well as weddings.

    Nkgaswa giant of spoken word
  8. Botswana Sunday Standard

    Sunday Standard Blaming BOMRA for medication shortages is a new low in the long running saga of blame games Not long ago, authorities at the Ministry of Health blamed the Central Medical Storres for using archaic systems.

    Blaming BOMRA for medication shortages is a new low in the long running saga of blame games
  9. The Botswana Gazette

    Health ministry confirms isolated resistance to Ebola screening at the Tlokweng Border, says situation is under control with awareness efforts ongoing BONGANI MALUNGA The Ministry of Health has confirmed that it has encountered instances of travellers refusing to undergo Ebola sc

    MoH Monitoring Ebola Screening Refusals
  10. Daily News Botswana

    Mr Dimpho Dichaba who represented cleaners from Scottish Livingstone Hospital told the minister that they had not been paid their salaries for the past three months and their employer had cited non-payment from the Ministry of Health.

    Employment Act Comes Into Effect July 1
  11. The Botswana Gazette

    Ombudsman Stephen Tiroyakgosi says he will brief the nation on the Ministry of Health’s response once government commitments have been consolidated.

    Ombudsman Promises Progress Report on Health Crisis
  12. Daily News Botswana

    Chief public relations officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr Christopher Nyanga, said although NCD prevalence among children remained lower than among adults, the upward trajectory cannot be ignored.

    Official highlights importance of play
Society

Parliamentary inquiry into Botswana's nationwide drug shortages

The News

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

Yesterday

  1. 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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

Ministry of Health — Botswanan press coverage · Botswana Minute