Universal healthcare in the pipeline
Current system needs to improve
The funding for Universal Health Coverage and Care can be obtained from existing sources such as the budget, user fees and the state medical fund.
The process of making Universal Health Coverage and Care (UHC) a reality in Namibia, is on track.“Let it be given the time and space it deserves to complete the process,” health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula told the National Assembly (NA) adding that the critical elements of UHC is access to and affordability and quality of services.
According to him, the ministry's current efforts to improve the status quo is already in place to progress to UHC. “Namibia already meets the requirements with reference to access to, affordability and quality of health services that are the basis of UHC.”
Shangula said that financing can be obtained from the various financing modalities that exist in the country. These include available financial resources from user fees, government budget for health, as well as the medical fund for civil servants and political office bearers.
However, funding will also be needed for the construction of new health facilities, the upgrading of existing facilities, the purchase of new generation medical equipment, the training and recruitment of additional human resources, as well as the provision of medicines and clinical supplies.
A team of public, private and civil society role players together with a World Health Organisation (WHO) consultant met in June to prepare and to review the Essential Health Services Package. Field visits and data collection to evaluate the 2014 District Health Package are scheduled for mid-July.
According to Shangula, several nationwide policy consultations are also in the pipeline.
“Given the long-term efforts and diversity of role players that will contribute to the UHC agenda, the ministry is following a phase approach to managing dialogue on policy development.”
Two key objectives
In 2018-19, the ministry developed a draft plan for a Universal Health Coverage Policy that sets out the main strategies for achieving universal health coverage in Namibia. The focus is on two key objectives, based on the guidelines of availability, accessibility, equality, affordability and quality in the provision of essential services.
These include improving the health care system and reducing financial barriers to access to health care.
However, the policy has not been finalised due to changes in the local and global environment. This includes the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic which negatively affected the continuity of essential services and led to the contraction of the global economy which in turn affected spending on health.
“The health system in Namibia continues to bear the effects of the shock caused by the pandemic, as well as the burden of other communicable and non-communicable diseases,” he said.
He acknowledged that the broader challenges to the health care system continue to lead to the delivery of substandard services.
Cabinet has already approved the roadmap for the development of UHC in the country, as well as the structure that will pave the way for the promotion of the participation of various role players as well as national consultation.
The government structure that will manage the development of the policy consists of a cabinet committee on public service, a technical advisory committee, various working groups and a technical committee for the development and implementation of the policy.