Botswana’s president declares health emergency over supply shortages

Boko, pictured earlier this year, blamed the state procurement agency Central Medical Stores for ratcheting up drug prices. Photograph: Reuters

Botswana’s president has declared a public health emergency due to shortages of essential medicines and equipment, as a downturn in the global diamond market and US aid cuts take a toll on the country’s finances.

The announcement came after the Ministry of Health suspended non-urgent surgeries on 4 August, stating that the country was short of medicines to treat hypertension, diabetes, cancer, asthma and eye conditions, as well as supplies including bandages and sutures and those for sexual and reproductive health.