ARTICLE 16:
THE RIGHT TO ENJOY THE BEST ATTAINABLE STATE OF PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH.
The Government has continued to improve the health sector so as to ensure that
citizens enjoy the best state of physical and mental health as guaranteed in the
African Charter.
The national health care delivery system has six structural levels, namely National
referral hospitals, District hospitals, Primary hospitals, Clinics, Health posts and
Mobile stops. The growth of the health infrastructures has been extensive from a
small and narrow hospital based service serving a minority at independence to a
broad decentralized primary health care system where most of the population is
now within 8km radius of the nearest health facility
The Ministry of Health runs all health facilities in the country clustered in 27
health districts. There are 3 national referral hospitals, 12 district hospitals, 17
primary hospitals, 108 clinics with beds, and 181 without beds, 337 health posts
with a nurse, 13 without a nurse, 674 Health facilities and 900 Mobile stops36. To
make medical services more effective and efficient, administration of clinics has
now been transferred from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development to the Ministry of Health for better management in line with the
2011 National Health Policy.
Medical Centres of Excellence are also being established to improve health care,
while achieving long-term cost savings, through the provision of specialist services.
Achievements include the establishment of the Cardio-thoracic Surgery Centre at
the Princess Marina Hospital in partnership with the Government of Mauritius.
Botswana continues to devote significant resources to the health sector. In this
regard, Government health facilities offer citizens free health care for children,
destitute persons, and women seeking ante-natal care. The consultation fee is only
P5.00 (less than US$0.50) and medication is free.
Specialised health care may be received at Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone
Private Hospital, and Bokamoso Private Hospital or, at the expense of government,
may be received in South Africa where the treating physician recommends same.
36
See Master Health Facility List 2012, Ministry of Health, page iv.
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