The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) welcomes and applauds the Government of Botswana, under the leadership of President Duma Boko, for declaring a State of Public Health Emergency and taking swift action to address the ongoing medicine shortages.

We particularly commend the allocation of P250 million towards emergency procurement and distribution of life-saving medicines, with the Botswana Defence Force BDF ensuring timely delivery to even the most remote health facilities. The immediate action to dispatch emergency trucks with medicines is a demonstration of leadership that prioritizes the health and dignity of Batswana.
Equally important, BONELA acknowledges the bold step taken by government to expose and confront inflated medicine costs at the Central Medical Stores (CMS). The revelation that medical supplies valued at over P705 million could in fact be procured for under P80 million is deeply concerning, and we applaud the President’s commitment to reform procurement processes to ensure accountability, transparency, and value for money in public health expenditure.

We also celebrate the launch of the Unity Healthcare Botswana Partnership Fund (UHBP I), a landmark BWP 5 billion initiative aimed at securing long-term healthcare supplies while strengthening local manufacturing, enhancing supply chains, and fostering public-private partnerships. This fund has the potential to transform Botswana’s healthcare landscape, ensuring consistent access to medicines for chronic conditions such as HIV, diabetes, and hypertension.

BONELA emphasizes that community and civil society engagement is not only desirable but imperative in ensuring equitable access to healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations. Active participation of civil society strengthens democratic accountability and ensures that the right to health is realized without discrimination. In this regard, BONELA calls for urgent and comprehensive reforms at the Central Medical Stores (CMS), with a particular focus on leadership restructuring to secure institutional accountability, eliminate inefficiencies and curb malpractice. These reforms must be prioritized and implemented with transparency to guarantee that public resources are safeguarded and utilized effectively.

As an organization working at the intersection of health and human rights, BONELA reaffirms its readiness to partner with government, civil society, and the private sector in ensuring that the bold measures announced translate into sustainable health security for all.

For more information, contact BONELA on:
Cindy Kelemi at cindyk@bonela.org or 72385054
Katlego Sechele at ksechele@bonela.org or 72282025