PRESIDENT BERSEK CONCERNED ABOUT SKMT

Following his state visit to Botswana, Switzerland’s President Alain Bersek recently visited Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMT) and expressed his concerns on the hospital being underutilized.

As of 2022, SKMT hospital has been given the license to operate as a private hospital that offers medical services and will provide access to the public through referrals from private and public health facilities.

“The hospital should start operating, as these beds that we were shown must be occupied by patients and I understand that the hospital helped a lot of patients during COVID-19,” he stated.

The acting Minister of Health, Hon. Sethomo Lelatisitswe mentioned during the visit to the hospital that the government is doing everything it can to make sure that SKMT hospital starts its operation soon. The only challenge that is hindering the hospital from being operational is the shortage of staff as those who were present during the COVID-19 period left the hospital for greener pastures.

“We aim to come up with strategies to bring back some of our local doctors home and to the hospital,” Hon Sethomo mentioned.

He further pledged to commitment in ensuring there is an established committee in operating the hospital and utilizing it as diagnostic testing, disease surveillance and services delivery to the health facility.