- Facility to offer general radiography, ultrasound, CT scan, angiography, and interventional radiology
- Advanced imaging was previously available mainly at large private hospitals outside Botswana
- Only one Gaborone-based private facility offered advanced imaging
Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH) recently launched a state-of-the-art Radiology Department.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Health, Dr. Edwin Dikoloti, said the occasion marked the beginning of the hospital’s accessibility to the people of Botswana and the rest of the world and is a great milestone.
Minister Dikoloti said the facility will afford patients an opportunity to have access to improved imaging services. “This technology will be availed to both private and public healthcare sectors as well as for teaching and research purposes,” he said. “The specific medical imaging services that will be offered in the Radiology Department that we are opening today include general radiography, ultrasound, CT scan, angiography, interventional radiology and others.” The imaging techniques are expected to give SKMTH the capacity to provide advanced imaging previously available only in large private hospitals outside Botswana.
“With imaging such as 3 Tesla MRI, advanced CT, Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy machines, as well as high-speed connectivity complementing IT services, the hospital will offer reliable and timeous imaging services to optimise patient management,” said Dr Dikoloti. He pointed out that the current healthcare system cannot be conceptualised or planned with obsolete equipment and mindset.
The minister noted that the aging population, emerging health threats, increased community expectations and economic reforms for sustainable investment in quality health systems call for a different approach to doing business. SKMTH’s Commissioning Manager, Dr Ishmael Makone, said the 450-bed hospital is expected to help address healthcare challenges such as rising levels of non-communicable diseases, shortage of healthcare professionals, especially doctors, and allied health professionals.
The ultimate objectives of the hospital include offering a comprehensive array of value-based healthcare problems in Botswana and being a training hub for health professionals through the University of Botswana and other partners. The hospital will also serve as a research hub to provide evidence-based medical care and guide public health policy and direction. The commissioning of SKMTH started in 2016 and is expected to take another three to five years “to successfully achieve the final phase (of) refinement of certain services into what may be called centres of excellence”.
