From AHO

The master policy for the health system is the National Health Policy that was first formulated in 1995 to guide the development of the health sector toward attainment of the highest level of health. In response to changes in the health status of the population, health care technologies and the organization of the health system, the National Health Policy was revised in 2011.

The revised policy puts emphasis on:

• quality of care
• optimum health services utilization
• fair distribution of services across the population spectrum
• protection of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations
• social determinants of health
• partnerships of the public sector, private sector, civil society and communities.

Plans are underway to establish a National Health Council to coordinate and oversee all health sector activities.

Besides the National Health Policy, Botswana has a number of health system policies focused on the major health programmes in the country. These include the:

• National Sexually Transmitted Infections/HIV/AIDS policy 1998
• TB/HIV Collaborative Policy Guidelines 2010
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy Guidelines and Service Standards 2007
• National Policy on Mental Health 2003
• Malaria Policy 2011
• Botswana National School Health Policy and Procedure Manual 1999
• National Alcohol Policy for Botswana 2011
• National Policy on Care of People with Disabilities 2008
• National Environmental Health Policy
• Botswana Policy for Waste Water and Sanitation Management 2001.

Other guiding frameworks for Botswana's health system include Acts of Parliament and programme guidelines such as:

• the Public Health Act (Chap. 63.1)
• the Mental Disorders Act
• Clinical Waste Management Code of Practice
• The Control of Smoking Act 1992
• Operational Guidelines, Service Norms and Standards for Injection Safety in Botswana
• Waste Management Act 1998.