Botswana’s health system is set to receive a major boost after the World Bank approved a new Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPRR) Project aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to respond to pandemics, climate-related health threats and routine public health challenges.
A press release from the World Bank stated that the project, approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, will provide US$43 million (approximately P580 million), comprising a US$40 million loan and a US$3 million grant, to support critical reforms in medicine supply management, disease surveillance and health system resilience.
The approval comes at a critical time for Botswana, which has faced increasing health system pressures linked to severe droughts, flooding and vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These shocks have disrupted essential services and threatened progress in human capital development. In August 2025, the government declared a State of Public Health Emergency following nationwide medicine shortages, highlighting the urgency for systemic reform.
Welcoming the development, Minister of Health Dr Stephen Modise described the project as a strategic intervention aligned with Botswana’s national priorities.
“This project responds directly to our urgent national priorities, from the state of public health emergency we declared to the systemic vulnerabilities revealed by the pandemic and climate shocks,” Modise said, adding that the initiative would help build a resilient, data-driven health system that leaves no Motswana behind.
According to the statement, a key component of the project is the rollout of an electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS), which will allow real-time tracking of medical supplies from central warehouses to remote health facilities. The system is expected to reduce medicine stock-outs and ensure uninterrupted access to essential drugs, particularly in rural areas.
Further, the statement noted that the project will also support the establishment of a climate-resilient National Drug Quality Control Laboratory, aimed at strengthening oversight of medicine safety and quality, while improving public confidence in treatment outcomes.
World Bank Country Director for Botswana Satu Kahkonen said the initiative goes beyond emergency response and focuses on long-term system strengthening.
“It is about building a more efficient, equitable health system that delivers quality care every day and withstands emergencies,” Kahkonen said, describing the project as a strategic investment in Botswana’s resilience and sustainable growth.
In addition, the HEPRR Project will enhance disease surveillance and response capacity through investments in the National Public Health Laboratory, enabling faster detection of infectious diseases. National and district Rapid Response Teams will be trained and deployed to respond swiftly to emerging health threats.
Gender inclusion is also embedded in the project, with deliberate efforts to support greater participation of women in leadership roles within emergency preparedness and response structures.
The five-year project will be implemented by the Ministry of Health, working in collaboration with the Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority, as part of broader efforts to build a more resilient and responsive health system for the future.
