Botswana has agreed on a new healthcare financing reform roadmap with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), launching a 100-day action plan aimed at improving healthcare funding, medicine procurement and the delivery of medical services.

The agreement was reached following high-level discussions in Gaborone on October 29, 2026, involving government officials and representatives of the United Nations agency.

One of the main outcomes is the establishment of a Joint Technical Working Group, chaired by the Ministry of Finance and co-chaired by the Ministry of Health. The group will coordinate reforms and oversee priority actions during the initial 100-day period.

The proposed reforms will focus on improving public health expenditure, strengthening medicine procurement systems, monitoring government spending and ensuring that available resources produce better healthcare outcomes.

Medicine shortages and service disruptions are among the key challenges the initiative aims to address. Officials also discussed the financial arrangements needed to support Botswana's proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) system.

The ECA will provide technical assistance through economic analysis, financial planning, data coordination and policy assessments.

The initiative comes as Botswana faces increasing healthcare costs and pressure to maintain sustainable public health services while protecting citizens from high out-of-pocket medical expenses.

The 100-day roadmap could become an important step towards improving healthcare access and financial sustainability in Botswana. Its success will depend on how effectively the agreed reforms are implemented.