Botswana Doctors Union (BDU) and Government.

Article By: Marang Thuto - Gaborone

The standoff between the Botswana Doctors Union (BDU) and government, through the Director of Public Service Management (DPSM), continues with no resolution in sight — and patients increasingly caught in the crossfire.

In a statement issued recently, BDU reaffirmed its decision to limit emergency call services to just one call per doctor per month.

The union maintained the action is lawful, arguing it does not breach the Trade Dispute Act or the Employment Act.

It also dismissed government’s call to resolve the issue through the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC), citing insufficient doctor representation to meet the council’s membership threshold.

This follows last week’s Industrial Court interim interdict secured by DPSM, halting strike action by public service doctors and reiterating that emergency calls fall within their core duties.

As the dispute drags on, access to critical health services remains compromised, leaving patients as unintended victims of the deadlock.