Diabetes, Hypertension medication still in short supply

Minister Dikoloti promises that the medication is coming 30% of adult population have hypertension in Botswana

Medication for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension and other commonly used antibiotics is expected to arrive in the country before the end of this month.

Health Minister Edwin Dikoloti told the media on Monday that the consignment which cost government close to P20 million (USD1 475 447, 65) will leave the Netherlands, where it was purchased this week.

The country has been experiencing shortage of medication for months that run into a year and government has for the longest period explained that procuring medication proved difficult because of the Covid-19 pandemic. So dire was the situation that patients were left with no choice but to buy medication from private entities as local hospitals and clinics ran dry. The situation was risky for people with some of the common conditions in Botswana such as hypertension and diabetes. The Ministry of Health studies indicated last July that nearly 30 percent of the adult population lives with hypertension in Botswana, making it a highly prevalent condition in the country.

Also an estimated 46 percent of deaths annually, are caused by NCDs. Government ended up engaging Baylor College of Medicine for a quicker service. “I am happy to report that since my last address in November, the collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine is bearing fruits. The first consignment comprising mainly cancer medications to the tune of P1 660 740 has been received. The second batch of cancer medicines worth R5 403 840, approximately P4 500 000 is in order,” Dikoloti said. The hypertension and diabetes medications are the third consignment, while the fourth consignment comprising critical cardiovascular medicines and antibiotics to the tune of USD 1 048 665, approximately over P13 million will also come in the next two weeks.

More medicines valued at USD 1 097 655, 45, close to P14 million is expected to arrive by April 2023. The Minister said that they are buying and securing more medicines from other partners with some having arrived late last year. Other batches are expected in the coming months.

Dikoloti is confident that with the current stock level at health facilities, the shortage of medication is stabilising and expect the situation to normalise in the future.

Meanwhile, numerous facilities across the country still reported dire shortages as at Tuesday evening, with the unauthorised nurses and doctors on the ground sharing unofficially with this publication that the situation had not gotten any better as orders were still being processed.

A clearer picture was with Palapye Primary Hospital where medical staff there reported that their medication storerooms were empty and that orders would take no less than 5 days to get the medications to their station. They said they were hopeful however, that with the minister announcing some medications have arrived, the situation would improve. Other staff members across the country lamented the lack of especially medications for hypertension and diabetes.