UCG management team speak so eloquently about the company’s vision. Their pronouncements stand out for the reasonableness. They ideate a world where an ordinary Motswana in Ramotswa is able to access even specialist medical care, perform X-Ray scans or any medical technology imaginable, and even get the prescribed drugs under one roof.
To them, this is the kind of efficiency which is currently inadequate in the Botswana medical industry. “Most of the services we get here are General Practitioner (GP) services. Should there be a necessity for a specialized service, one gets referred to a specialist elsewhere, at exorbitant costs. In most cases, they have to book for that specialized service which may also be delayed,” observed one of the UCG managers. “Our plan is to change that. We want to completely transform the medical industry, slowly but surely,” another manager chipped in.
UCG has started opening up a chain of one-stop-shop medical centres. Already, they have a medical centre in Muchudi, which comprises of a clinic, pharmacy and some specialist medical services located in Kgabo Mall. UCG managers believe that by having that integrated medical centre in Mochudi, the residents will have no reason to travel to Gaborone seeking services which they could easily access in Muchudi.
The company has a similar set up in Ramotswa, comprising of a clinic, pharmacy and other specialist services. To the UCG Group, inadequate medical services in villages is an opportunity for expansion. Currently, UCG operates three integrated medical facilities. The group’s medium term plan is to set up extra seven centres to provide Batswana with integrated and affordable medical services. “By so doing, we are not only in business. We play a patriotic role of ensuring that Batswana have access to affordable medical care from the comfort of their villages. We will soon open up centres in Molepolole, Mahalapye, Palapye, Francistown and even in Maun,” said one manager.
Coming from humble beginnings, the youth led business is gunning to have branches all over the country which will provide the much needed health services at affordable prices. UCG Ultra Care group was founded by a team of local Batswana Medical Doctors in 2019 to carry out business in the health care industry. Ultra care has two companies under its wing, UltraCare Clinics and Ultra Care Pharmacies. The group has a clinic in Mochudi (Kgabo Mall) and is currently opening its second and third Medical Center in Ramotswa, where the facility is a combined clinic and retail pharmacy. Ultra Care group wants to offer a fully fledged medical facility with clinic, pharmacy, ultrasound X Ray imaging and dietician services. It is worthwhile to state that, all Ultra Care facilities offer General Practitioner services as well as specialty consultation services on scheduled dates, including but not limited to gynaecology, urology services, dermatology services and cardiology services.
Ultra Care Group was funded by equity contributions from the shareholders as well as bank loans. The shareholders are a team of specialist doctors as well as other technical professionals like Human Resources experts and accountants. Said one manager: “Our services provide clients with convenience as we are able to service clients at the comfort of their homes through the Home Health Care programme that we have”.
According to the founders, Clinics and pharmacies or integrated medical centres are ideal health care centres which provide clients with convenience. The two services complement each other as clients are able to access both the doctor for consultation and see the pharmacists for medications all at the same time.
Ultra Care plans to open 10 More Centres in Botswana over the next 3 years.
Ultra Care group currently employs three pharmacists, three medical doctors, six health care auxiliaries. In addition, they have a competent management team which comprises group Managing Director, Finance Manager and operations manager.
All positions in the company are held by Batswana including the management positions. Ultra Care believes in all government citizen economic empowerment initiatives, as they will help create a strong and a sustainable economy. Further to that, they play a role also in Corporate Social Investment (CSI). They say they do quarterly free disease screening and monitoring for those with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes etc.
