Botswana Doctors Union said stock-outs remain widespread, particularly in remote areas, and cautioned that public statements of progress risk eroding trust in the health system
GAZETTE REPORTER
Doctors have accused government of undermining public trust by celebrating improvements in medicine supply chains while patients across the country continue to face life-threatening drug shortages in public health facilities.
Through their union, the Botswana Doctors Union (BDU), the doctors said recent declarations suggesting progress in medicine availability do not reflect the reality on the ground in hospitals and clinics.
The warning comes in response to an update by Health Minister Stephen Modise on efforts to stabilise medicine procurement and distribution.
“VICTORY IS PREMATURE,” SAYS BDU
In a briefing note, the union cautioned the Ministry of Health against what it described as “declaring victory over an ongoing crisis,” arguing that true success can only be measured by consistent access to prescribed medication for every patient.
“The true measure of success will be when every patient who presents at any public health facility can consistently access the medicines prescribed to them without delay, interruption, or unnecessary financial burden,” the BDU said.
The doctors acknowledged ongoing interventions aimed at improving supply chains but warned that stock-outs remain widespread in public facilities.
“Our members continue to report stock-outs of vital and essential medicines as well as supply inconsistencies in several facilities,” the union stated.
PERSISTENT SHORTAGES ACROSS REGIONS
The BDU said improvements, where they exist, are uneven and have not reached all parts of the country. It highlighted continued shortages in remote areas such as Maun, Shakawe and Ghanzi, where patients are often forced to go without treatment or seek alternatives.
The union stressed that the situation on the ground remains fragile and inconsistent despite official assurances of progress.
DOCTORS REJECT BLAME
The union also pushed back against past suggestions that healthcare workers were responsible for medicine shortages, saying doctors have long warned about procurement inefficiencies, supply chain failures and poor stock management.
“These claims not only undermined public confidence in healthcare professionals but also diverted attention from the systemic challenges that were at the heart of the crisis,” the statement said.
BDU emphasised that frontline medical staff neither procure medicines nor control national supply chains, adding that their role is limited to patient care and advocacy for adequate resources.
HUMAN COST OF SHORTAGES
The doctors further warned that the continued shortages have had severe consequences, including preventable deaths.
“Across the country, families continue to mourn the loss of loved ones whose deaths may have been preventable had timely access to essential medicines and healthcare services been guaranteed,” the union said.
“These are not merely administrative failures; they represent real human suffering and loss.”
The union argued that government has a statutory obligation under Section 136 of the Public Health Act to ensure access to basic healthcare services. It said accountability will be essential in rebuilding public trust in the health system.