12 Mar 2025

Ministry of Health has sent health personnel for further training with a plan to redeploy them to different parts of the country where there is need, upon their return, to improve the patient waiting periods in government healthcare facilities.
Responding to a question in Parliament, Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse said they were anticipating that the health personnel would return home upon graduation.
“They will be deployed to different parts of the country where there is a need, including Kgatleng District. They are expected to improve the waiting periods at our health facilities,” he said.
He said government facilities had long waiting periods due to shortage of specialised health personnel, equipment and infrastructure limitations.
For example, he said Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital (DRM) had significant limitations in its infrastructure, adding that the ministry planned to build a new District Hospital in Mochudi area. However, he said plans were currently under review.
In an effort to increase access, he said the ministry had also deployed a Family Physician, Paediatrician, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, who were based at DRM Hospital.
These specialists, Mr Ookeditse said conducted outreach services to facilities in the catchment area once every month, including Mmathubudukwane Clinic.
To further ensure citizens receive timely medical attention, the assistant minister said the ministry was currently working on activating the teaching mandate of Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, which was anticipated to further increase the number of health care professionals in the country.
“In addition, we are exploring the National Health Insurance Policy, which is expected to ensure that every citizen gets access to quality health care at the shortest possible time at their place of choice, including private facilities, thereby reducing waiting periods,” he added.
Kgatleng East MP, Mr Mabuse Pule had asked the assistant minister to state measures being implemented to reduce patient waiting periods in government healthcare facilities in the country, specifically in Kgatleng East constituency.
He also wanted to know if there were any planned improvements to make sure citizens received timely medical attention without long delays. ENDS