The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has revised the projected cost for the construction of the Windhoek District Hospital to N$3.2 billion, an increase from the initial estimate of N$2.9 billion.
The planned 500-bed facility, to be located in the Havana informal settlement, is intended to alleviate the pressure on Katutura Intermediate Hospital and enhance healthcare delivery to Windhoek’s growing urban population.
“The construction of a hospital requires huge investment, i.e. development of services (water, electricity, sewer, roads) before the actual construction of the hospital building, ancillary services and staff accommodation can commence,” the ministry said in a response to The Brief.
The Health Ministry indicated that the revised cost includes not only the hospital structure itself, but also essential infrastructure developments required to support the facility.
Once completed, the hospital will provide a full range of outpatient and inpatient services, significantly reducing the need for referrals to overburdened hospitals. Key facilities will include a pharmacy, radiology department, outpatient services, kitchen, and laundry, according to the ministry.
The hospital’s location was chosen to improve access to health services for Windhoek’s underserved communities. “The hospital is expected to bring essential health services closer to Windhoek residents, reducing reliance on overburdened referral hospitals and ultimately saving lives through timely care,” MoHSS said.
Supervision of the project according to the Ministry, will remain under the Government, with responsibilities shared between the Ministry of Works and Transport and the MoHSS.
“The overall supervision is by Government (MWT and MoHSS) with a delegated function to the professional consultants responsible for the design. The construction component open bidding will be undertaken,” the Ministry said.
Bulk infrastructure services to the hospital site are expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year, while the hospital is projected to be fully operational by the end of 2027.
The facility will also feature solar water heating systems to cut electricity usage and reduce the carbon footprint, part of the ministry’s drive to promote environmental sustainability and long-term cost efficiency.
According to the 2023 National Infrastructure Atlas compiled by the Namibia Statistics Agency, Namibia has 530 public health facilities, including 49 hospitals, 60 health centres, and 421 clinics. Among these, five are referral hospitals, with Windhoek Central serving as the national referral facility, while Katutura, Oshakati, Onandjokwe, and Rundu serve as intermediate hospitals.
