MINISTER of health and social services Esperance Luvindao has told the National Assembly that Namibia needs up to N$18 billion over five years to effectively run and upgrade public healthcare.
She was responding to a question from Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani yesterday about the funding needed to adequately operate public healthcare facilities.
The discussion came in the wake of president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s directive for senior government officials, members of parliament and public servants to use public healthcare facilities, starting 1 April.
Following this directive, the government also announced it would fully cover civil servants’ Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme (Psemas) contributions, doing away with the 5% contribution they previously paid.
Luvindao said the current health budget stands at approximately N$13.1 billion annually. However, an adjusted allocation of about N$14.6 billion would allow for some improvements in the current financial year.
“The ultimate goal is that an amount of N$17 billion to N$18 billion would enable us to deliver the level of healthcare required today,” she said.
The minister said the increased funding would support key priorities, including upgrading existing facilities and building new intermediate and district hospitals over the five-year period.
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