Oshakati hospital bans cellphones for health workers

Intermediate Hospital Oshakati has issued a directive banning doctors and other healthcare workers from using cellphones while on duty.

Superintendent Ruben Kanime says in the directive that the ban aims to improve efficiency, as cellphone usage is time-consuming and could put patients at risk.

“It has come to the attention of management that the unauthorised use of [cellphones] and wearing of earphones while on duty has become a growing concern at Intermediate Hospital Oshakati.

This behaviour is unprofessional, compromises patient care, and poses serious risks to safety and efficiency in our healthcare setting.”

Kanime says in line with a circular from the office of the executive director, personal cellphone usage during working hours should be strictly limited to emergencies and official hospital communication.

He says using cellphones for social media, personal calls or entertainment while attending to patients is strictly prohibited.

Similarly, wearing earphones or headphones while on duty, especially in patient care areas, is unacceptable and must be discontinued immediately.

Health and social services minister Kalumbi Shangula says he will respond to the issue in the parliament soon.

This comes after a concerned patient told The Namibian about a nurse on duty who he says was having a conversation while checking his vitals.

The patient, Johannes Nghilifavali, says: “I was at at the Katutura Health Centre a week ago and the nurse was on a call for about four minutes.”

“I asked her why she was using the phone while attending to me and she responded that she is also human and has problems.”

Nghilifavali is calling on the ministry to give clear directives on the use of cellphones while on duty.

He also claims that nurses create content for social media while on duty while patients wait to be assisted.

“Staff members found violating this directive will face displinary action, as such behaviour is a breach of professional ethics and hospital policies,” Kanime says, adding that department heads and unit managers are to ensure the directive is implemented immediately. A nurse at Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, says banning the use of cellphones while on duty is unfair as nurses use the devices to provide care to patients.

“We use [cellphones] to communicate with the doctors. Cellphones have become integral to medical practice.

There are apps that provide healthcare workers with access to information about diseases and treatment, as well as information about the patients’ drugs,” she says.

She also adds that healthcare workers only make use of their cellphones during lunch hours, or when communicating with doctors.

Another nurse says she understands the concerns, saying it looks unprofessional for a healthcare worker to be on their phone while on duty.

“Maybe it’s high time that we as healthcare workers change our attitudes while on duty,” she says.

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