NHI Senior Consultant, Lydia Andries, said authorities were considering digital solutions to improve coordination between public and private healthcare providers, with the aim of enhancing efficiency, accountability and access to medical services. The NHI is a proposed healthcare financing system intended to advance universal health coverage by pooling resources and strategically purchasing services from accredited healthcare providers. It is designed to improve access to quality healthcare, including for citizens who cannot afford private medical aid, while strengthening the sustainability of healthcare financing. Earlier this year, the government announced that it has allocated P77.8 million towards operationalising the scheme.
The allocation forms part of preparations to establish the institutional and operational framework required for implementation. Speaking at the second annual Botswana Actuarial Symposium last week, Andries said Parliament’s approval of the NHI policy had paved the way for preparatory work, including the development of a financing model to accompany the proposed NHI Bill. "Currently the NHI policy has been approved and the approval now gives us the opportunity to now start the building blocks for the foundation of the NHI whilst waiting for the bill to go through Parliament," she said.
