Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member Winnie Moongo says the presidential directive urging top government officials to use state healthcare facilities is impractical.
She said this in reponse to the announcement of the directive by minister of health and social services Esperance Luvindao at a workshop with senior health officials at Otjiwarongo last week.
Luvindao said the directive, which will come into effect in April 2026, will see senior civil servants like herself seeking medical attention at state hospitals.
“This move is not practical with the current state of our public hospitals already facing numerous challenges,” Moongo says.
She says these challenges stem from corruption in the ministry’s tender process, a lack of and dilapidating infrastructure, and a lack of specialised health personnel from various disciplines.
The never-ending shortages of clinical supplies and medication, she says, is still a major problem in hospitals.
Moongo says the doctor-to-patient ratio continues to be a challenge in public hospitals.
“The ministry is already failing to cater for over 78% of the population that solely depends on public hospitals for medical services. How is this going to work if you add more to it?” she asks.
Moongo suggests that the government first address the challenges it is currently experiencing before it further overwhelms public hospitals.
The objective, she says, should be to professionalise medical care in the public sector.
“We need to raise the standard of services rendered – not add more
baggage.”
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