SKMTH A National Healthcare Pillar

The transformation of Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH) into a public health hospital has ignited nationwide debate, with differing views on whether the facility should remain true to its original mandate as a teaching and referral institution. Briefing the media recently, SKMTH acting chief executive officer, Dr Rachel Seleke-Motsu, said the move was aimed at easing chronic congestion at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH), which had for years struggled under the weight of rising patient numbers. She noted that the move aligned with government’s commitment to universal health coverage, a key pillar under the Ministry of Health.

Within the broader national healthcare system, she added, SKMTH had already made a significant structural impact. “As the transition continues, further adjustments and commissioning of spaces are expected,” she said. She emphasised that the transition phases would be critical in ensuring that the facility met its long-term goals of excellence in healthcare, teaching and research.

Nonetheless, Dr Seleke-Motsu reiterated that SKMTH’s mandate remained firmly centred on specialised healthcare delivery, adding that the institution was designed to support advanced medical treatment, medical education and research, while positioning itself to meet global standards of clinical excellence. Sharing similar sentiments, a Paediatric Endocrinologist at PMH, Dr Seeletso Nchingane said the hospital’s infrastructure reflected such ambition, adding that SKMTH played a central role in improving access to specialised care and reducing long patient waiting times. He reiterated that the expansion was intended to improve patient flow management, strengthen primary healthcare referral pathways and ensure that specialised services were accessed appropriately.

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Dr Nchingane confirmed that government had recently approved the reinstatement and integration of certain services into public hospitals, stressing that “this does not mean services have been shut down elsewhere.” Instead, he said, hospitals were now running together and in parallel in a coordinated manner. “Radiology and other diagnostic services are among those being aligned across facilities,” he said.

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