Parley pushes for relocation of primary healthcare services
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday September 3, 2024 08:53
The main reason for the relocation back then was to create a single health authority as well as to enable continuum of care from primary to quaternary care and to enhance standardisation of patient care. But Batswana continue to accuse the government of poor service delivery.
In a motion that was tabled by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Takatokwane, Tshoganetso Leuwe, collectively, MPs conceded it was overdue for healthcare services to be relocated back to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in an effort to improve healthcare delivery. Debating the motion, Leuwe said healthcare service delivery used to be quicker, easier when it was handled under the Ministry of Local Government hence the need to consider relocating it back to local government ministry to improve service delivery and save lives.
He argued that most people have lost their lives due to centralisation of healthcare services especially those residing in rural areas as they are forced to travel long distances to seek medical care something which is not working in case of emergencies. Moreover, Leuwe said districts have since increased hence the need for such services to be taken closer to the people. “Local government was doing a great job during their time. Shortage of drugs, nurses, ambulances was not a headache like now. We should all agree that the decision to relocate services was a bad move and do what’s best for Batswana, curb unnecessary deaths that could have been avoided when services were closer to the people. Currently clinics do not have standby ambulances unlike in the past as patients have to wait for ambulances to be called from primary hospitals for assistance. Healthcare is key, it is an important tool in our economy and we cannot take it lightly because if people do not receive proper care there is no how they could contribute effectively to the country’s economy, let us stand up and save people’s lives,” Leuwe pleaded.
Supporting the motion, the MP for Thamaga/Kumakwane Palelo Motaosane said the motion was overdue because citizens have been pleading for healthcare services relocation for years because they are currently struggling. “We are talking about people’s lives and we should admit that we had made a mistake by relocating these services hence the need to use the same speed we used then to relocate them because the move has since proven not to be effective. Such decision was taken by us here and we should admit our mistake and save people’s lives.
Back then, clinics were not struggling even with manpower because the then ministry had proper training of its personnel. Ambulances were always available, if they did not have medication they would rather find ways to source them from private pharmacies, local government was doing well and we should just admit it. All this escalated during this period and we should not shy away from talking about it,” he said. Maun East MP, Goretetse Kekgonegile shared the same sentiments with Motaosane that people continue to lose their lives due to centralisation of healthcare services. He further revealed that before the relocation, the country’s healthcare was pride as countries used to benchmark in Botswana.
“Back in 2022 government gazetted the rationalisation of this relocation but to date that is yet to be implemented, this shows that this government does not take people’s lives serious. We could have saved a lot of lives during Covid-19 if services were still at Local government but we failed to do so as patients had to wait and travel long services to seek medical care,” Kekgonegile said.
Kanye North MP, Thapelo Letsholo interrupted other MPs on a point of order asking other legislators if they do not see a need for a decision to be taken for everyone despite their positions to seek medical assistance in clinics and feel the pain that Batswana feel on daily basis. For his part, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kgotla Autwetse supported the motion sharing the same sentiments that healthcare services used to be better offered from local government hence the need to listen to people’s concerns.
“The decision to centralise healthcare services was taken by this same government and if a mistake was done, it was done by us hence the need to amend things and save lives. It is true that decisions were taken quickly, services provided promptly at local government hence saving people’s lives. Responding Leuwe’s question, Assistant Minister of State President, Boitumelo Gofhamodimo supported the motion stating that a decision in relation to the relocation has been taken and relevant ministries, being the Ministry of Health and Wellness and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development are currently looking at the matter.