Botswana country profile: Primary health care

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.