Botswana Declares Health Emergency Over Medicine Shortages

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2 days ago

Above: Duma Boko speaks at a meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, on June 30, 2025. Image copyright: Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua/Getty Images

story last updated 2 days ago

The Spin

Narrative A

The health emergency stems from years of mismanagement and inflated procurement costs that have drained government resources. Current medicine prices are inflated five to 10 times normal rates, making the situation unsustainable under existing economic conditions. Swift intervention and emergency funding will restore essential services.

X Africanews

Narrative B

Botswana’s escalating health emergency is a wake-up call. Medical supply chains have collapsed, national coffers are depleted, and U.S. aid — once covering a third of HIV, malaria, and TB programs — has been sharply reduced. This reveals the harsh cost of Western dependency. Botswana must chart its own course forward.

X Bloomberg