Namibia’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Policy, which aims to strengthen equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare, is nearing completion and will be presented to the Cabinet early next year.
This announcement was made during a media briefing held by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to mark International Universal Health Coverage Day.
The policy is expected to outline a broad vision for ensuring that all Namibians can access essential health services without financial hardship.
“The UHC Policy, currently in its final stages, will be presented to the Cabinet early next year and will set out a broad vision to strengthen equitable access to quality, affordable health services for all,” said the Executive Director in the MoHSS, Ben Nangombe.
He further explained that over 92% of the population now lives within 10 kilometres of a health facility, enabling widespread access to essential services, particularly in rural areas.
Budget allocations to healthcare consistently exceed the Abuja Declaration target of 15%, with Namibia dedicating over 16% of its national budget to health.
This commitment has kept out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure at just 8%, far below the global threshold of concern.
Furthermore, Namibia’s health system has also earned international recognition for achievements in maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS epidemic control, and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
The government’s investments in training healthcare professionals have ensured a health worker-to-population ratio above the World Health Organisation’s benchmark, with medical practitioners deployed across the country to provide critical services.
“The government recognises the importance of strengthening health systems through investments in human resources, infrastructure, medicines, health information systems, and many other areas,” he said.
Despite these successes, the Ministry acknowledged persistent challenges, including geographic and socioeconomic disparities in access to care, rising rates of non-communicable diseases, and the growing impacts of climate change.
To address these issues, the government has approved a N$16 billion health systems strengthening proposal. This initiative includes key projects such as the construction of the Windhoek District Hospital and the introduction of dialysis services in public hospitals.
“The emergence of new diseases, rising rates of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancers, and mental health challenges, alongside the impacts of climate change and natural disasters, continue to exert pressure on Namibia’s health system and broader well-being,” he said.
Namibia currently has 1,150 outreach points, 27 primary clinics, 44 health centres, 30 district hospitals, and only five referral hospitals, as per the ministerial statistics.
