The Ministry of Health and Social Services has announced plans to establish Medical Care Emergency Response (MCER) Centres in all 14 regions of Namibia, as part of efforts to improve the country’s emergency healthcare system.
Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said the initiative forms part of a broader national strategy aimed at ensuring timely, equitable and quality healthcare delivery.
The new MCER Centres , she said, will be staffed by Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs) and are expected to significantly reduce response times and improve coordination in medical emergencies.
“The Ministry will therefore soon be moving away from the current approach of deploying ambulances to various hospitals, health centres and clinics.Instead, we will establish Medical Care Emergency Response Centres in all 14 regions, with adequately trained personnel – Emergency Care Practitioners – to ultimately improve emergency response times and enhance patient care,” Luvindao said.
She was speaking on Friday at the official commissioning of 36 newly procured ambulances in Windhoek.
Luvindao noted that the traditional model of assigning ambulances to individual facilities is no longer viable.
With over 360 health facilities across the country, she said, the current system is inefficient and unsustainable.
“The acquisition of the 36 ambulances is part of our broader national strategy to improve health outcomes by expanding infrastructure, supporting frontline health workers, and enhancing emergency medical services.We are grateful to all our partners and stakeholders who have made significant contributions towards this vital milestone,” she said.
Luvindao said the Ministry is also considering the procurement of smart ambulances equipped with advanced technologies.
These she said, may include 5G-connected systems for real-time transmission of patient data to hospitals, enabling remote guidance from doctors and more effective care during transport.
Dr Luvindao said future ambulances could be fitted with artificial intelligence tools to assist with diagnostics, medication dispensing and patient monitoring, as well as augmented reality technology to help paramedics access medical histories and receive real-time instructions from specialists.
“However, acquiring these ambulances, which are quite expensive to procure and maintain, is just the beginning. For the Ministry to render a sustainable Medical Care Emergency Response Service to our people, we must ensure that these vital life-saving equipment are well maintained, properly equipped and used efficiently,” she said.
In addition, she said the Ministry is exploring partnerships with private ambulance service providers and is considering the use of air ambulance services.
These she said, would be particularly useful for transporting patients over long distances and during emergencies such as floods.
“These measures are intended to ensure timely access to critical care and prevent the loss of life due to unavailable or delayed emergency response services,” said Luvindao.
