The crisis is linked to the high price of medicines, a shrinking national budget and cuts in US aid.
Botswana has declared a public health emergency, with President Duma Boko saying the national medical supply chain collapsed due to depleted government coffers and steep cuts in aid from the United States.
The announcement came on Monday after the Ministry of Health and Wellness warned earlier this month that the system was “severely strained” with $75m owed to private health facilities and suppliers.
It cited shortages of medicines for a range of illnesses, including hypertension, cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, asthma, mental and sexual health, and stated that elective surgeries were postponed.
The Health Ministry also said there were shortages of dressings and sutures.
