Govt inaugurates new Psemas governance committee

The government has inaugurated a new governance structure for Psemas to improve accountability, efficiency and long-term sustainability in public servant’s healthcare benefits management.

The new committee was launched by prime minister Elijah Ngurare on Monday.

Ngurare described the reform as a critical step towards strengthening healthcare governance and ensuring better service delivery for Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (Psemas) members.

The newly established committee replaces the former coordinating committee, which Ngurare said had limited expertise, inadequate oversight, delayed decision-making, and poor accountability mechanisms.

“To address these, stakeholder institutions were requested to nominate qualified candidates to serve as members and alternate members of the first board of trustees in the form of the new Psemas governance committee. Members are drawn from government organisations representing members of the scheme, and regulators of medical aid and health profession industries,” he said.

Experts in finance, risk management, benefit design and clinical protocols will support the committee through specialised subcommittees to ensure effective oversight of the scheme.

The committee will report to the Cabinet committee on public service and is expected to guide policy development, oversee reforms and ensure cost-effective healthcare benefits for members.

He said the Psemas governance committee is expected to provide strategic leadership and overall administration of the medical scheme, including policy formulation and coordinating the implementation of ongoing reform measures to ensure cost sustainability, value for money and quality healthcare to members

Ngurare said Namibia has prioritised health and education since independence, recognising that a healthy and educated population is essential for national development.

He noted that significant public funds flow through Psemas, which must be managed responsibly to support quality healthcare for public servants.

The reforms also align with a national policy directive by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, which encourages senior government officials to use public health facilities.

The policy forms part of Namibia’s broader goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage and improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare services across the country.

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