Kalafhi Medical Group eyes medical tourism as Botswana’s next growth frontier
Lucy Kgweetsi | Wednesday September 10, 2025 13:14
The company, trading under Phomolo Health (Pty) Ltd, is fully citizen-owned and was founded in 2018 by Dr. Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane.
Since its establishment, its operations have since grown to include four medical clinics, three retail pharmacies, an aesthetic clinic, and the flagship Kalafhi Day Hospital located at Fairgrounds Mall in Gaborone.
The Day Hospital, which began operations in September 2024, is currently operating below full capacity, at about 30%. The health facility provides a range of services including general practice, dialysis, oncology, rehabilitation and ambulatory surgery.
It also works with visiting specialists in fields such as cardiology, nephrology and paediatrics. Officials said plans are in place to expand the scope of services to include surgical procedures in 2025, followed by digitisation of patient records and integration of new technologies between 2026 and 2027.
During a recent tour of the facility, Dr. Mongwa-Mouwane linked these investments to a broader vision of positioning Botswana as a medical tourism hub.
“For us to do that as Botswana, we really need to invest in our facilities, and Kalafhi is looking to start the ball rolling in that aspect,” she said.
Kalafhi’s Business Development Manager, Barolong Mouwane, added that Botswana’s geographical location offers an opportunity to attract patients from neighbouring countries who are seeking affordable care without travelling long distances.
At the same time, Kalafhi has had to respond to short-term pressures in the domestic system. Following confirmation by the Ministry of Health of ongoing shortages of medicines and supplies in public hospitals, the group announced a temporary three-month initiative at its Main Mall Clinic.
The intervention offers consultations for uninsured patients at reduced rates of between P50 and P100, limited free consultations on Saturdays by appointment, and medicines dispensed at near cost.
The approach reflects the dual pressures private providers face, addressing gaps in public provision while ensuring their own operations remain sustainable.
Analysts note that such measures may also strengthen patient trust and visibility in the market at a time when healthcare access is under strain.
Looking beyond Gaborone, Kalafhi’s roadmap includes expansion into Francistown and other centres by 2026, before moving into Zambia, Namibia and Eswatini. The group has also set a target of listing on the Botswana Stock Exchange by 2030, a step aimed at raising capital and strengthening governance as it scales up operations.
Kalafhi’s trajectory illustrates the shifts underway in Botswana’s private healthcare sector, providers adapting to immediate national challenges while aligning themselves with longer-term opportunities in regional demand and medical tourism.