Government has begun preparations for the rollout of Vision April 2026, a flagship initiative that will require civil servants to use public healthcare facilities, with seven hospitals selected for the programme’s initial phase.
The first phase, set to commence on 1 April 2026, will focus on senior public servants, including political office bearers, executive directors and security chiefs.
The hospitals selected for the rollout are Windhoek Central Hospital, Katutura Intermediate Hospital, Rundu Intermediate Hospital, Keetmanshoop District Hospital, Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, the Walvis Bay–Swakopmund Hospital Complex and Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital.
According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), dedicated patient flow management systems will be introduced to minimise waiting times for officials, while existing referral mechanisms will remain in place for specialised services not yet available at public facilities.
The ministry said the preparations form part of broader efforts to strengthen Namibia’s public health system ahead of the policy’s implementation, which was announced by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said a comprehensive readiness assessment completed in September 2025 has guided targeted investments aimed at improving service delivery across public hospitals.
The assessment identified four critical focus areas: human resources, medicine availability, medical equipment upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
To address staffing shortages, the ministry funded more than 2,000 additional medical posts during the 2025/26 Mid-Year Budget Review. Of these, 1,262 positions have already been filled, with full staffing expected by March 2026.
“Buildings do not heal people; doctors and nurses do. To support this Vision, we identified and funded over 2,000 additional personnel positions during the 2025/26 Mid-Year Budget Review,” Luvindao said.
She said the recruitment drive is intended to reduce patient waiting times and improve clinical care standards across public health facilities.
The ministry has also revised its procurement processes to ensure consistent availability of medicines and clinical supplies. Direct procurement from manufacturers has been introduced to address previous shortages, with a target of achieving 95% stock availability nationwide.
Deliveries scheduled between February and March 2026 are expected to cover approximately 40% of outstanding orders, ensuring that essential medicines are consistently available.
In addition, government is accelerating the upgrading of medical equipment and technology, equipping hospitals with diagnostic and treatment tools comparable to those in the private sector. The upgrades are expected to strengthen surgical capacity and improve treatment outcomes.
Infrastructure and transport improvements are also underway, with maintenance projects being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Namibia Training Authority to enhance hospital functionality and the overall patient experience.
“Working closely with the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Namibia Training Authority, we are executing specific maintenance projects to ensure our facilities are visually and functionally up to standard. Furthermore, we have procured additional ambulances and emergency vehicles to boost our responsiveness,” Luvindao said.
