Universal Health Coverage for All

they need without risk of financial ruin or impoverishment. Working towards universal health coverage is a powerful mechanism for achieving better  health and well-being, building human capital and enhancing human development. 

The Current Reality

The public health system is struggling with shortages of personnel, drugs and equipment. Health outcomes are bad. There is needless loss of life due to shortage of personnel and skills in health facilities. More than 40% of under-five deaths occur during the neonatal period, and over 90% in the first day of life. The Maternal Mortality rate is 193 per 100,000 live births. Botswana is one of only a few countries in Africa that have not reduced the incidence of new HIV infections. Mental health challenges are on the rise, as is  

disability.The health systems experiences high rates of staff turnover. Concerns have been raised about inadequate protective equipment, over-working personnel and poor conditions of service, including salaries. These push workers to seek greener pastures elsewhere. Those who study abroad often  

choose not to return in part because the system rewards expatriates with similar skills better. 

The UDC Promise

The UDC promises Batswana a world class health system that is consistent with the demands of building human capital for the 21st century.

The UDC Will

Develop a comprehensive national health policy to move Botswana towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). UHC will enable all people to use health services that they need  – that are of sufficient quality to be effective; and to ensure that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship. 

Decentralise primary health care and vest its management and oversight on local authorities.

Employ more health professionals to achieve staffing ratios that are consistent with the provision of quality health care. A UDC government will increase the number of nurses and midwives by absorbing trained health workers that are currently unemployed.  

Delink the health profession from the general civil service and develop and implement a retention strategy for nurses, doctors and other care givers. This will entail improvement of the working conditions and reward system of health professionals. Upgrade health infrastructure across the country and improve logistics to ensure that health facilities have adequate supplies of drugs and materials. Reduce malnutrition among children under the age of 5 by supplying free supplementary and therapeutic food for children and improve the quality of food for primary school children.

Establish rehabilitation centres to address the problem of addiction and drug abuse in Botswana. 

Establish information and research system for health interventions and encourage the establishment of  

community based gyms to promote physical activity and prevent non-communicable diseases. 

Revitalise the national response to HIV and improve access to quality treatment, care and support service for patients, prevent new HIV infections through provision of condoms and public education, information and communication, and effectively coordinate of partner support in the health sector. 

Provide Pre and Post Exposure Prophylaxis medication in all public health facilities