Health Minister Dr. Stephen Modise has revealed the government owes over P1 billion to medical suppliers and private hospitals, leading to severe shortages of essential medicines.

In an address to Parliament on August 5, Minister Modise acknowledged the government can no longer provide comprehensive health services due to mounting debts. “We currently owe P433 million just for outsourced patient care at private facilities,” he stated, listing major hospitals like Bokamoso Private Hospital and Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital that are awaiting payment for critical services including ICU care and dialysis treatment.

The minister announced drastic measures including suspending all non-urgent referrals to private facilities and halting the Chronic Medicines Dispensing Programme. “We’re facing shortages of medications for hypertension, diabetes, HIV, tuberculosis, cancers and mental health conditions,” Modise admitted, adding that even basic medical supplies like sutures and dressings are running low.

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) responded with sharp criticism, accusing the government of failing to address the crisis nearly ten months after taking office. “The UDC government should stop blaming the previous administration and take responsibility,” the opposition party stated.

The BCP warned of potentially catastrophic consequences, including the development of drug-resistant TB and HIV strains if treatment protocols are interrupted. They called for immediate austerity measures including suspending all non-essential government travel, cutting political allowances, and redirecting funds to medicine procurement.

“The blood of citizens lost due to this failing health system is on the UDC government’s hands,” the BCP statement read, urging President Duma Boko to treat the situation as a national emergency.