The Ministry of Health and Social Services has called for responsible prescribing and monitoring of weight-loss and metabolic treatments amid growing public demand for medicines such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Executive director Penda Ithindi, speaking on behalf of health minister Esperance Luvindao at the opening of the 2026 Namibia Health Exhibition in Windhoek on Friday, said the growing demand for these treatments required careful oversight.
“These breakthroughs hold immense promise, but they demand rigorous responsibility,” Ithindi said.
He said the ministry was witnessing an unprecedented surge in public demand for weight-management and metabolic treatments such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, widely known by the brand names Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Ithindi said healthcare providers needed to ensure ethical prescribing, careful patient monitoring and strict follow-up care when using these treatments.
“Furthermore, we must shield the public from counterfeit, substandard and illegally marketed products,” he said.
The ministry also raised concerns about the spread of health misinformation on social media and the rise of unregulated self-medication.
He called on regulatory bodies to respond to these threats and urged healthcare practitioners to provide evidence-based information to protect patient safety.
The remarks were made during the opening of the two-day Namibia Health Exhibition, held under the theme ‘Transforming Healthcare for All’
Ithindi said Namibia was facing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
He said healthcare transformation required greater emphasis on prevention, early detection and the promotion of healthy lifestyles rather than responding only after people became ill.
The ministry highlighted the potential of digital health records, telemedicine, artificial intelligence and data-driven systems to improve healthcare delivery, while stressing the need for appropriate infrastructure, digital literacy and regulatory frameworks.
Ithindi called on private-sector companies and innovators to focus on solutions to the challenges facing Namibian patients, particularly vulnerable communities.
He said the exhibition should serve as a platform for partnerships and practical action to improve healthcare delivery.
