The completion of the Biomedical Center of Excellence marks a turning point in how Lesotho manages and sustains its critical medical equipment. Established as a major investment in the sustainable management and quality assurance of hospital machinery, the Center reflects Partners In Health (PIH) Lesotho’s growing capacity to maintain life-saving equipment in-house.
At the facility, a dedicated team of two biomedical engineers and two technicians is responsible for handling most equipment maintenance; work that was previously outsourced to external service providers. This shift reduces downtime, shortens emergency response times, and significantly cuts costs.
From Outsourced Delays to In-House Efficiency
For years, maintaining medical equipment meant relying on external suppliers, a process that was both costly and time-consuming.
“When it comes to the Biomedical Center of Excellence, there are a number of factors that we are targeting to improve,” says PIH’s Senior Biomedical Engineer, Mphatso Tsoka. “The first one is the Botšabelo MDR-TB Hospital and our Rural Initiative sites. Initially, we contracted for every piece of medical equipment. It was sourced externally, which was very expensive.”
Botšabelo Biomedical Centre of Excellence
Photo by Justice Kalebe / PIH
Beyond cost, delays in procurement and servicing disrupt care.
“A machine can be out of service for weeks,” Tsoka explains. “That interrupts patient care.”
With the Center now operational, maintenance is handled internally, allowing for faster turnaround and more reliable service delivery.
“We are now able to respond to emergencies and plan maintenance in time,” Tsoka says. “Instead of a machine being down when a patient needs it, it supports monitoring, treatment, or diagnosis reliably.”
Ensuring Quality Through Testing and Simulation
Every piece of equipment serviced at the Biomedical Center of Excellence undergoes thorough testing before it returns to clinical use.
“We are going to be stressing calibration, simulation, and quality checks here at the Biomedical Center of Excellence,” Tsoka explained. “Ideally, equipment should not go straight to the hospital. We simulate real-life and abnormal conditions using machines that act like human beings, test the equipment, and check if it can detect abnormalities. That guarantees quality results for diagnosis and treatment and compliance with regulated standards.”
Mphatso Tsoka inside the Botsabelo Biomedical Centre of Excellence workshop, maintaining equipment
Photo by Justice Kalebe / PIH
Building National Capacity Through Training
The Center also serves as a national training hub, expanding access to biomedical engineering skills across Lesotho.
“We are targeting the nation,” Tsoka says. “We want to make sure the biomedical field is extended to as many people as possible.”
The program welcomes individuals from diverse technical backgrounds, including electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering, enabling them to apply their skills within healthcare settings.
“People who studied electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemical technologies can apply their engineering principles in a hospital setup and make a real impact,” he says.
Through hands-on training and mentorship, the Center is strengthening the country’s capacity to manage its own medical equipment.
Mphatso Tsoka inside the Botšabelo Biomedical Centre of Excellence workshop.
Photo by Justice Kalebe / PIH
Creating Systems for Reliability and Sustainability
For Tsoka, the significance of the Center goes beyond equipment maintenance.
“This investment is not just about fixing machines,” he says. “It is about training local talent, creating systems for quality assurance, and ensuring hospitals can depend on reliable equipment for years to come.”
By reducing reliance on external service providers, PIH Lesotho is also able to redirect resources toward patient care, workforce development, and broader health system improvements.
“Cost savings are just one part of the picture,” Tsoka notes. “The bigger impact is empowering our own people to solve problems, maintain equipment, and innovate solutions that fit Lesotho’s context.”
Inside the Botšabelo Biomedical Centre of Excellence workshop.
Photo by Justice Kalebe / PIH
Strengthening Collaboration Between Engineers and Clinicians
The Center promotes close collaboration between biomedical engineers and clinical teams, ensuring that equipment meets the practical needs of healthcare delivery.
“As a training and mentorship site, we are imparting both hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge,” Tsoka says. “We want to show how the medical field and engineering interact and how these skills can improve patient care.”
Francis Sambani inside the Botšabelo Biomedical Centre of Excellence workshop.
Photo by Justice Kalebe / PIH
A Foundation for the Future of Healthcare
As the Biomedical Center of Excellence grows, it is equipped to become a cornerstone of health innovation in Lesotho. By combining maintenance, training, and quality control under one roof, the facility will strengthen the country’s health infrastructure while building the next generation of biomedical professionals. Hospitals across Lesotho can now expect faster repairs, safer equipment, and a growing cohort of trained technicians ready to meet the demands of modern healthcare.
“This Center is about more than machines,” Tsoka concluded. “It’s about people, skills, and systems. It’s about making sure every hospital in Lesotho can provide reliable, safe care, now and in the future.