On Thursday last week Francistown Academic Hospital officially opened its doors to the public. This private hospital lies along A1 road near Tati Siding village 10 km from the city of Francistown.
It was built by a private health company Indus Health Care Group in partnership with the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC). The BDC pumped P50 million into the project. The establishment of the project was facilitated by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC).
Giving a project overview, the Executive Head at Francistown Academic Dr Navtej Singh said the hospital is an unexpected jewel in the second city as it is the only private health care facility along the A1 road.
The hospital is built on an 8 000 square metre piece of land. The medical specialisation at the hospital comprises of amongst others Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Paediatric, Laparoscopic Endoscopic surgeons, Spinal cord surgeons and general surgeons.
Dr Singh said these specialists are assisted and supported by more than 100 accredited health professionals.
“The workforce currently comprises of a total of 201 staff, with a total of 144 women and 57 men. We have employed over 80 percent of citizens,” he said.
Speaking during the launch BDC Managing Director Cross Kgosidiile said the state-of-the-art hospital is testament to the unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence and the relentless pursuit of progress in the country.
“It represents the unyielding belief in the power of collaboration and the collective determination to provide world class health care to the people of this great nation. This further symbolizes our commitment to investing for impact in our communities, and not just for financial returns,” he said.
He said BDC has been at the helm of building Botswana’s industries. Kgosidiile further said for 53 years their organization has been securing the future of Botswana’s wealth as a government investment arm.
For his part the Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Edwin Dikoloti said opening of this facility is a milestone in the country’s healthcare sector and a sign of their commitment to improving access to quality healthcare services. He said from the onset the Botswana government has been supportive of state enterprises such as the BDC and BITC in their effort to make this project a success.
He further showered accolades on BITC for its role in attracting foreign direct investment and facilitating partnerships which led to the Indus Healthcare Group for establishing the facility. He also commended the Indus Health Care Group for its vision, expertise and unwavering commitment to delivering quality healthcare services.
“Your dedication to promoting medical excellence, coupled with your strong partnership with local stakeholders has ensured that the hospital meets the set standards. Your investment in this facility will also undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge in our country,” Minister Dikoloti said.
Among other important issues, he said the government will continue to work closely with the private sector to improve access to health care for all citizens. He said they will ensure that the health policies and strategies in place align with the broader goal of providing affordable and quality healthcare to all.
Dr Dikoloti said according to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services. He said by establishing the Francistown Academic Hospital, they are taking a bold step towards bridging the gap and ensuring that citizens have access to quality health care in the country.
Giving a keynote address, the Minister of Trade and Industry Mmusi Kgafela who was the guest speaker said this is a very important project as it was key to saving the lives of Batswana during the advent of the Covid 19 pandemic. He said there is an urgency to establish such facilities in the region.
“It is anticipated that health expenditure will outpace GDP growth over the next 15 years in almost every Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) country.
“Health spending per capita will grow at an annual rate of 2.7 across the OECD and will reach 10.2 percent of GDP by 2030, up from 8.8 percent in 2018. Such rapid growth makes the health care sector a necessary, and viable industry for capital investment in our current economic environment,” he said.
He also said although the country had its fair share of social and economic hardships, which were worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, this project will bring the renewed hope turning over a new page and the attainment of the country’s national goals.
