Government treats doctors like dust bins - Dr Selema
The Botswana Doctors Union (BDU) President, Dr Kefilwe Selema, has launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing it of treating medical professionals 'like dust bins.'
He expressed frustration over what he described as years of tireless and dedicated service by doctors, often going far beyond their call of duty, with little to no appreciation from the state.
Speaking to the media after this Tuesday's Ministry of Health (MoH) press conference on their grievances, Selema highlighted the burden of emergency calls, stating that they result in extensive, unpaid working hours, which negatively affect doctors' well-being.
He said the previous administration admitted it lacked funds to compensate for these extra hours and instead proposed paying doctors with leave days.
However, with each doctor expected to clock in around 120 hours of emergency calls per month, equivalent to several full workweeks, the situation has spiralled.
The government reportedly pleaded with doctors to forego their accumulated leave, resulting in a significant backlog of owed time off.
Refuting claims that local doctors are well-rested, Selema said the medical profession has been consistently pushing for a proper call policy and a structured call roster to manage emergency shifts effectively.
'We are in a crisis,' he stated bluntly, criticising the government's denial of the situation as mere public relations posturing.
He emphasised that the issue is not political, stating that negotiations are not with the UDC or any partisan entity, but with the government itself, a government led by the same individuals even before the UDC took over power.
'They must take responsibility,' he asserted.
Selema accused the authorities of downplaying the conflict between the government and the BDU.
He defended the union’s recent decision for doctors to stop responding to emergency calls, insisting it is not illegal but a necessary response to an untenable situation.
Calling for an overhaul of the public health sector, Selema urged the government to focus on equipping hospitals adequately to prevent Batswana from being forced to seek care in private institutions.
To achieve this, he said, 'We must attract and retain high-calibre professionals by offering competitive salaries and working conditions.'
He also disputed the Minister of Health’s recent claims that private sector doctors would assist in public hospitals, pointing out that many of these professionals had already left the public system due to its harsh and exploitative conditions.
Selema noted with concern that both the BDU and the Botswana Nurses Union have lodged complaints, warning that the situation could escalate into an uprising if not addressed.
He criticised the minister for painting an overly optimistic picture of the health sector’s state.
“This is slavery,” Selema concluded. “It is unacceptable to claim there's no money to pay doctors while funds are readily available for other activities. We will not back down or accept slave-like conditions.”
In another development the Botswana Doctors Union, now allied with the Botswana Nurses Union, has accused the government of neglect and poor treatment of healthcare professionals.
The two unions recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly advocate for healthcare reform and improved working conditions.
The Minister of Health, Dr Stephen Modise, has reassured the nation that the healthcare system remains operational and under control despite ongoing disruptions arising from a standoff between the Ministry and BDU.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday morning, Modise addressed the contentious issue of emergency call duties, which has seen some doctors opting to perform only one emergency call per month.
The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), stressing that every Motswana deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of location or socio-economic status.
While acknowledging doctors’ grievances, Modise stated that limiting emergency calls significantly compromises patient care.
“One call per month is not what could keep our people alive,” he said.
He emphasised that while exploitation of health workers is unacceptable, the rights of both patients and doctors must be respected and protected.
Modise cited a recent court order which interdicted doctors from limiting their calls, declaring the practice a breach of contract and service conditions.
Hospital operations vary across the country. Princess Marina Hospital is experiencing disruptions in the paediatrics and orthopaedics wards, while Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital remains fully operational.
Nyangabgwe Hospital has seen broader non-compliance, particularly in the Medicine, Surgery, and Paediatrics departments.
District hospitals are mostly stable, although challenges have emerged at Sekgoma Memorial and Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospitals.
Primary hospitals have also been affected, with Kasane and Palapye Primary Hospitals reporting the highest number of doctors refusing to take extra calls.
As has become the norm where the current administration blames today's problems on their predecessors, Modise too, took a jab at former President Mokgweetsi Masisi, accusing his party of having neglected the healthcare system for the past five years, causing them to inherit a problematic ministry.
“The problem is our people want what they want now,” Modise said, adding that through dialogue, they can iron out the issues.
He criticised the way top brass at the MoH has been attacked and said that it is no way to resolve the conflict.
Modise further absolved himself of any responsibilities as he said that he has no powers to change the payment structure of anyone. He said that there is a proper way to act within the law like taking issues to the Bargaining Council.
Thapelo Koketso, the Deputy Manager responsible for employee relations at the Ministry of Health, traced the cause of the issue to the 2022 negotiations.
He noted that a task team was set up to collect data on emergency call duties, but unresolved issues remain, including leave days and allowances for doctors enrolled in training.
Koketso called on all stakeholders to engage in comprehensive discussions to resolve the ongoing crisis.