The availability of essential medicines at public health facilities across Namibia has reached 83%, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has revealed.
Speaking at the National Pharmaceutical Services Forum, MoHSS Executive Director Penda Ithindi said the improvement was due to a combination of sourcing strategies, the introduction of long-term supply contracts, and fast-tracked procurement for priority medicines.
“According to the Pharmaceutical Management Information System, 83% of essential items are now available at public facilities—an achievement we should not take lightly,” said Ithindi.
He added that the Central Medical Stores (CMS), which supplies medicines to state-run health centres, currently maintains a stock level of 70.13% in relation to national demand.
However, he noted that further investment in warehousing, logistics, and distribution systems was needed to sustain and improve this performance.
The Ministry was recently granted an exemption from national procurement thresholds, enabling quicker acquisition of critical medicines and reducing red tape. Ithindi said this had been instrumental in boosting stock availability.
The Ministry has also completed the design phase for a new CMS facility, with the bidding process for construction expected to begin later this year.
The project is being funded in partnership with development agencies, including the Global Fund.
“This critical infrastructure upgrade… will expand storage capacity, improve cold chain efficiency, and support more modern logistics systems,” said Ithindi.
Efforts to improve procurement planning have also included a revised three-year rolling quantification process, developed with input from regional pharmacists.
The system has led to more accurate forecasting, better alignment between central and local needs, and reductions in both overstocking and medicine expiry risks.
In a significant development for pharmaceutical information management, the Ministry has completed the nationwide rollout of the Facility Electronic Stock Card (FESC) Version 4.2.
The updated system enables near real-time tracking of medicine stock at facility level and includes automated tools to analyse expenditure and prioritise high-value items.
“The new version also includes automated ABC analysis functionality, allowing teams to review expenditure patterns and prioritise high-value items,” said Ithindi.
“This is already improving accountability and helping facilities make more informed decisions to support rational medicine use.”
Additionally, the Ministry has approved Namibia’s first National Essential Clinical Supplies List (NECSList), a structured reference guide aimed at standardising the procurement and use of clinical supplies at public health facilities.
The guide is expected to improve planning, stock management and the efficiency of non-medicine budgets.
