In August last year, when supporting a motion that was tabled by the then Member of Parliament (MP) for Takatokwane, Tshoganetso Leuwe, collectively, MPs conceded that it was overdue for healthcare services to be relocated to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in an effort to improve healthcare delivery. In a Savingram that was signed by the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary this Tuesday, the new government announced the transfer of clinics from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs. It also advised council secretaries and town clerks to ready their institutions to receive primary health care services, clinics to be specific, back to councils.
The Savingram stated that the relocation requires mobilisation of the procurement personnel for handing over of assets to local authorities. Last year, the previous government admitted to have blundered with centralisation of primary healthcare services and indeed the new administration took people’s concerns serious by moving swiftly to relocate clinics to councils as the public had suggested in the previous kgotla meetings. Then, they had explained that the initial main reason for the relocation was to create a single health authority as well as to enable continuum of care from primary to quaternary care and to enhance standardisation of patient care.
However, Batswana continued to accuse the government of poor service delivery, something that motivated this relocation. Debating the motion then, Leuwe said healthcare service delivery used to be quicker, easier when it was handled under the then Ministry of Local Government hence the need to consider relocating it back to the ministry to improve service delivery and save lives. Then, he argued that most people had lost their lives due to centralisation of healthcare services especially those residing in rural areas as they are forced to travel long distances to seek medical care, something which was not working in case of emergencies.
Moreover, Leuwe said districts had increased hence the need for such services to be taken closer to the people. “Local government was doing a great job during their time. Shortage of drugs, nurses, ambulances was not a headache like now. We should all agree that the decision to relocate services was a bad move and do what’s best for Batswana; curb unnecessary deaths that could have been avoided when services were closer to the people. Currently, clinics do not have standby ambulances unlike in the past as patients have to wait for ambulances to be called from primary hospitals for assistance. Healthcare is key, it is an important tool in our economy and we cannot take it lightly because if people do not receive proper care, there is no way they could contribute effectively to the country’s economy. Let us stand up and save people's lives,” Leuwe said then.
Then, responding to Leuwe’s motion, the Assistant Minister of State President, Boitumelo Gofhamodimo, supported the motion stating that a decision in relation to the relocation was already taken and relevant ministries, being the Ministry of Health and Wellness and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development were looking at the matter. Then, other MPs supported Leuwe’s motion stating the need to admit to have made a mistake by relocating these services hence the need to use the same speed they used then to relocate them because the move has since proven not to be effective.
