The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Newman Kahiya said they have realised there is a rigidity when it comes to sending doctors for further studies. He asserted that this is one of the factors that has led to the mass exodus of doctors from Botswana to more developed countries. "We have been very rigid as a ministry. Our doctors go for further studies after a very long time," he said. To improve the situation, Princess Marina has embarked on a clinical exchange programme with one of South Africa's largest private hospital groups, Netcare Limited.
Botswana doctors, from the government and private sector, met their South African counterparts to discuss best practices and new technologies particularly in areas of prostate cancer and brain tumour. Shortage of equipment and proper investigations have been identified as a major challenge for the country's largest referral hospital - Princess Marina. It has been found that the hospital is still lagging behind in new technologies utilised in medicine.
