Emergency centre in the pipeline

The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA Fund) provides critical support to the Ministry of Health and Social Services through specialised medical equipment, rehabilitation services and emergency care for road accident victims.

According to health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao, the joint effort not only strengthens the public health system's capacity to respond to trauma cases, but also ensures that patients receive timely and comprehensive care.

Luvindao was responding in the National Assembly to a question from Swapo MP Fenny Nanyeni on whether it would be more sustainable for the fund to invest in trauma centres at state hospitals.

Luvindao acknowledged that the fund has already been investing in strengthening public health facilities for nearly two decades, focusing on capacity building, infrastructure development and strengthening emergency response.

The investments include the recent renovation of the Katutura State Hospital emergency unit, the donation of medical equipment to the Oshakati State Hospital, as well as the donation of a Lodox X-ray machine to Katutura State Hospital.

According to the minister, the fund is currently in discussions with the ministry on several projects, including the renovation of theatres and intensive care units at both Katutura State Hospital and Windhoek Central Hospital.

The fund is also in the initial stages of establishing a trauma centre in Windhoek which, according to Luvindao, will support existing health facilities. The minister said the acquisition of land from the City of Windhoek has been finalised and the paperwork for the project will be ready early in the next financial year.

Nanyeni also asked Luvindao why patients covered by the MVA Fund are frequently referred or admitted to private hospitals and whether this practice points to capacity challenges at state hospitals or is a policy decision by the fund.

Luvindao explained that the fund has comprehensive clinical guidelines for an effective medical triage process that prioritises patients according to the severity of their condition rather than the day and time of their arrival.

“It is the policy of the fund to treat patients at the nearest appropriate health facilities,” Luvindao said.

In this regard, consideration is given to hospital capacity relative to the injury, the location of the accident and the appropriate health facilities capable of managing the injury, which is essential to ensuring the patient's chances of a positive outcome, as well as the availability of appropriate personnel to manage the injury.

According to Luvindao, state facilities are not always able to accommodate and treat all MVA Fund patients because of limited capacity.

The reasons include the availability of certain clinical expertise, timely access to operating theatres and limited beds in intensive care units.

“When appropriate, the fund transfers patients back to state facilities once the critical interventions and identified life-saving assistance have been carried out. In this regard, the fund maintains constant communication with ministry officials at various centres to ensure that appropriate measures are applied to facilitate these transfers,” Luvindao said.