Telehealth expansion to target rural health gaps
The government has pledged to prioritise rural communities in its sweeping new National Digital Health Policy (2026–2036), with plans to expand telehealth services nationwide in a bid to bridge persistent inequalities in access to healthcare.
Launching the policy in Windhoek last week, health minister Esperance Luvindao said equitable access would be central to the country’s digital transformation agenda. “We are prioritising the underserved,” Luvindao said. “This objective focuses on ensuring equitable access to quality health services through gradual expansion of telehealth to all regions and implementing integrated digital health solutions for community health.”
The policy sets out a 10-year blueprint to modernise Namibia’s health system through digital technologies, including electronic medical records (EMRs), broadband connectivity at health facilities, artificial intelligence and interoperable data systems.
‘Turning point’
Luvindao described the moment as a turning point for the country’s health sector. “Today, we stand at a defining threshold in the history of our nation’s health,” she said. “We are gathered here to officially launch the National Digital Health Policy (2026–2036), a blueprint that will define the next decade of digital innovation in the delivery of healthcare services in our country.”
She acknowledged that while Namibia has made significant progress in combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, deep structural and technological gaps remain. “We face a double burden of disease, with a rising tide of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, demanding sustainable and integrated care,” she said. “Inequalities in access to health services persist, especially for our rural communities, and continue to be compounded by an unevenly distributed health workforce.”
The minister painted a stark picture of the human cost of fragmented systems, noting that existing digital initiatives often operate in isolation.
“Our current digital efforts, while pioneering, often operate in silos,” she said. “A system for HIV may not communicate well with a system for patient records or the medicines supply chain management.”
Braking progress
She added that this lack of interoperability, combined with limited digital literacy and the absence of a strong regulatory framework, has slowed progress. “This fragmentation carries a human cost,” Luvindao said. “We needed this policy to end that fragmentation, to overcome geographic barriers, and to leverage technology to optimise resources and ensure equitable access for all.”
Under the new framework, the ministry has committed to building a secure and interoperable digital health infrastructure, including expanding broadband connectivity to all health facilities and rolling out functional electronic medical records. “This means expanding broadband to all health facilities, equipping them with functional electronic medical records, and enforcing national interoperability standards to enable seamless data exchange,” she said.
The policy is anchored on six objectives: robust governance, integrated infrastructure, workforce empowerment, innovation, equitable access and sustainable financing.
Transparency tantamount
On governance, Luvindao said the policy would align with national laws, including the Data Protection Bill, to ensure ethical and secure implementation. “We are establishing a transparent, accountable and ethical governance framework, aligning with national laws like the Data Protection Bill, ensuring responsible and secure digital health implementation,” she said.
She further confirmed that drafting of a dedicated Digital Health Bill has already begun. “This policy serves as the robust framework for the drafting of Namibia’s Digital Health Bill,” she said. “The envisaged Bill will establish the regulatory and legal certainty to protect patient privacy, ensure data security and govern digital health providers.”
Recognising concerns among healthcare workers about the demands of digital transformation, the minister sought to reassure frontline staff that they would be supported. “I know that ‘digital transformation’ can sound like a burden. But I want you to own this policy,” she said. “We are building this for you, to liberate you from administrative bottlenecks so that you can focus on what you do best: saving and improving lives.”
Digital health training will be integrated into pre-service and in-service curricula to strengthen workforce capacity.
Roadmap
To development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), Luvindao expressed appreciation for technical support and called for continued collaboration. “With a robust Implementation Action Plan with clear activities, indicators and targets, we invite all our partners to align your support and expertise with this national vision,” she said.
She concluded by framing the policy as both a technical roadmap and a moral commitment.
“This policy is more than a technical roadmap; it is a national commitment,” Luvindao said. “It is a promise that no one in Namibia will be left behind due to lack of information or access.”
The launch marks the start of a decade-long effort to digitise Namibia’s health system, with the government positioning the country as a potential regional leader in digital health innovation.
