The Namibia Institute of Pathology Limited (NIP) has launched a new Innovation Hub for laboratory consumables in Swakopmund, following an investment of nearly N$15 million in what it calls a strategic move to bolster local medical manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports.
The hub features a state-of-the-art injection moulding machinery with the capacity to produce 5.5 million non-additive laboratory tubes annually, including stool and urine cups.
Speaking at the official opening, NIP Board Deputy Chairperson Vaino Shivute said the project is being implemented in two phases. “Phase One, now underway, focuses on producing non-additive tubes, such as stool and urine cups, in an ISO7/ISO8 cleanroom facility. With an investment of just under N$15 million to date,” he said.
Shivute noted that the facility was financed through a combination of internal resources and external support, including a N$3 million machinery grant from the German Government and the European Union, channelled through GIZ. He described the hub as an example of effective public-private cooperation.
The initiative according to NIP is also expected to generate employment in fields such as engineering, quality assurance, finance, and logistics, while promoting skills development in biomedical and industrial manufacturing.
According to Shivute, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks of Namibia’s dependence on imported medical supplies, prompting NIP to take action.
“This facility will not only meet Namibia’s needs but serve the SADC region’s 300 million people, positioning Namibia as a continental leader in medical innovation and manufacturing,” he said. “But this is more than a factory. It is a symbol of our commitment to the national developmental agenda, which prioritises industrialisation and local value addition. It aligns with our Vision 2030, ensuring that every Namibian has access to quality healthcare.”
NIP Chief Executive Officer Kapena Tjombonde said the decision to venture into local production was driven by a desire to save lives and improve healthcare outcomes.
“We have undertaken to mould the future of healthcare. This production plant is testimony of that — it is our pride, it is national pride!” she said.
Tjombonde added that NIP plans to expand its manufacturing capacity, including the development of additive-filled tubes such as serum separators, to further meet national and regional demand.
The facility is Namibia’s first medical-grade injection moulding plant and will supply all its 37 pathology laboratories across all 14 regions in the country.
