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News release

Batswana overwhelmingly lack medical aid, but willing to pay higher taxes in exchange for universal public health care

13 Mar 2025 Botswana
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News release
Key findings
  • Only about one-tenth (12%) of Batswana say they have medical aid coverage, while an overwhelming majority (87%) say they do not (Figure 1).
  • Citizens who are especially unlikely to have health insurance include adults with secondary schooling or less (91%-97%), respondents experiencing moderate or high lived poverty (92-94%), and rural (94%) and semi-urban dwellers (90%) (Figure 2).
  • Among Batswana who do not have medical aid coverage, more than eight in 10 (82%) say it is because they cannot afford it (Figure 3).
  • Almost eight in 10 Batswana (78%) agree that the government should ensure universal access to adequate health care, even if it means paying higher taxes (Figure 4).

Medical aid coverage is extremely limited among Batswana: Only about one-tenth of adults say they have insurance that helps pay their medical bills if they get sick, a new Afrobarometer survey reveals.

Among those who lack medical aid coverage, more than eight in 10 say it is because they cannot afford it.

More than three-fourths of citizens indicate that government should ensure that all citizens have access to adequate health care, even if that means raising taxes.