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Country Profile
Botswana country profile: Primary health care
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine | Vol 18, No 1 | a5651 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5651
| © 2026 Yaone Bogatsu, Ludo S. Monene, Mothusi Mogatle, Stephane Tshitenge, Billy Tsima, Kesegofetse Chabaesele, Keneilwe Motlhatlhedi
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 12 June 2026 | Published: 12 September 2026
Submitted: 12 June 2026 | Published: 12 September 2026
About the author(s)
Yaone Bogatsu, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, BotswanaLudo S. Monene, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; and, Department of Primary Care, Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana
Mothusi Mogatle, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; and, Department of Primary Care, Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Gaborone, Botswana
Stephane Tshitenge, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
Billy Tsima, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
Kesegofetse Chabaesele, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; and, Global Health Office, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
Keneilwe Motlhatlhedi, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
Abstract
Botswana, an upper-middle-income country in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), is sparsely populated, with a population of about 2.4 million. The country has a national roadmap to develop a world-class healthcare system. Achievements in health service delivery include access to healthcare, the national human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) programme and a foundation for primary health care (PHC). The government of Botswana spent approximately 14.6% of its general government expenditure on healthcare in 2022. Botswana’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service index is lower than that of most middle-income countries and the global average. Family medicine (FM) is a relatively new speciality in Botswana; approximately 40 family physicians are practising in the public health system. The health workforce density in Botswana is 4.1 doctors and 31 nurses per 10 000 population. Primary health care in Botswana emphasises community engagement through district platforms. The strong PHC foundation is an opportunity for FM to contribute to high-quality health systems in Botswana.
Keywords
primary care; country profile; family medicine; Vision 2036; Universal Health Coverage; primary health care; community engagement; health systems.
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