The Ministry of Health has been called upon to explain whether tuberculosis (TB) patients in Botswana were administered medication of reduced effectiveness last year, amid fears that some patients may have suffered serious health consequences.
This follows a parliamentary question tabled in the Parliament of Botswana by Tati East legislator, Tlhabologo Furniture, who asked the Minister of Health to confirm reports that TB drugs believed to be less effective were given to patients from around mid-2025 before being withdrawn and replaced in November.
Public health experts warn that ineffective TB medication can have serious consequences, including prolonged infection, worsening illness, and the development of drug-resistant TB which is more difficult and costly to treat.
Furniture demanded full disclosure on the scale of the issue and its impact on patients.
Further is also asking “the Minister to confirm whether he is aware that TB patients were administered medication believed to be of reduced efficiency and later withdrawn.”
He further requested detailed information on how many patients were affected during the period in question.
Furniture aso wants the “ Minister to state the number of patients who were administered the said medication and whether any of them experienced significant deterioration in their health.” .
The legislator also pressed the government to reveal whether any deaths occurred while patients were using the suspected medication and to provide details of complications linked to its use.
Public health experts warn that ineffective TB medication can have serious consequences, including prolonged infection, worsening illness, and the development of drug-resistant TB which is more difficult and costly to treat.
Furniture also asked what steps the government has taken to assist affected patients.
“The Minister should explain what measures have been put in place to ensure affected patients receive appropriate medical attention, including follow-up care,” he said.
He added that Parliament and the public need clarity on whether special arrangements exist to support patients who may have developed severe or infectious forms of TB after using the medication.
The question comes amid ongoing efforts by Botswana to control TB, which remains one of the country’s most persistent infectious diseases despite years of intervention programmes.
The Ministry of Health is expected to provide a formal response in Parliament, which could shed light on the extent of the issue and whether patient safety was compromised.
