Saleshando petitions President Boko on health professionals’ outcry

Dumelang Saleshando, President of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, has written a letter to President Adv Duma Boko asking the president to intervene in the ongoing standoff between the government and medical doctors.In his letter to the president, Saleshando highlighted the plight of health professionals, particularly doctors, who are underpaid and whose skills, knowledge, and hard work are not adequately recognised.He also pointed out that these professionals are forced to work in constrained environments due to limited resources in the public health system, issues that have recently come to the forefront of public discourse.Saleshando criticised the ousted Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) regime for neglecting the interests of workers, especially health professionals, during its 58 years in power.He argued that the previous government failed to improve the public health system to meet universal health coverage targets, which aim to ensure access to quality health services for all.“I am hopeful that you will act on my appeal for immediate intervention, as the situation is urgent and threatens to cause irreparable damage to our public health system if left unaddressed,” Saleshando wrote.“I need not remind you that both of us, and our respective parties, have long been committed to improving the welfare of our people. The time has come to turn our words into action.”The Leader of the Opposition noted that the recent change in government brought hope and high expectations. However, he warned that the ongoing crisis surrounding the pay and working conditions of medical doctors threatens to undermine these aspirations and weaken the integrity of the health system.“Our Second Republic, which our respective political formations fought for over many years, cannot afford to mistreat health professionals—especially doctors who provide life-saving services to the majority of our people who cannot afford private healthcare,” he added.Saleshando urged the government to prioritise health professionals, particularly doctors, by recognising their skills and contributions, compensating them fairly, and improving their working conditions.He emphasised the need for a competitive pay package to retain and motivate medical professionals, given the shortage of health workers in Botswana.The BCP leader expressed solidarity with the concerns and demands of doctors advocating for better pay and working conditions. “We ask—nay, beg—your government to prioritise them,” he stated. Saleshando proposed several immediate measures, including:• Establishing a task force to address the crisis,• Conducting an urgent salary review,• Enhancing benefits,• Introducing retention bonuses,• Regularly engaging with health professionals, and• Converting temporary employment contracts to full-time positions.“These measures, while significant, are only a starting point,” he said.“I also propose longer-term solutions, such as partnerships with private sector entities to bolster healthcare funding, incentives for medical graduates to remain and practice in Botswana, and innovative workforce models to enhance healthcare delivery efficiency.”He concluded by stressing the urgency of addressing the scarcity of medical professionals, calling for radical improvements to ensure a resilient and high-quality health system. “It is time to prioritise our doctors and health professionals—not just as workers, but as indispensable pillars of our society,” he said.

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Saleshando petitions President Boko on health professionals’ outcry