health
'I want my life back': drugs shortages lay bare economic impact of diamond crash in Botswana
Healthcare should be free but lack of essential supplies has led to patients being told to buy their own medicines
TL;DR
- Severe shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies are plaguing Botswana's public healthcare system.
- Patients are being forced to pay for their own medication, with costs reaching thousands of pula monthly.
- The crisis is linked to a long-standing dysfunctional health procurement system, the Central Medical Stores (CMS).
- Botswana's economy, heavily reliant on diamond exports, has suffered a multi-year downturn due to falling diamond prices.
- This economic malaise has led to rising unemployment, with a significant impact on young adults.
- Despite past wealth, other healthcare outcomes have not kept pace with economic growth, and recent economic contractions are worsening the situation.
- The government declared a public health emergency due to medicine shortages.