Govt trains staff ahead of private wards rollout at state hospitals

The health ministry says it has trained customer care and help desk officers, matrons and facility managers as part of preparations to operationalise upgraded private wards at selected public hospitals across the country for all medical aid beneficiaries and cash-paying patients.

The upgraded private wards are at Windhoek Central Hospital, Katutura Intermediate Hospital, Rundu Intermediate Hospital, Keetmanshoop District Hospital, Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, Swakopmund Hospital Complex, and Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital.

Health ministry executive director Penda Ithindi told Namibian Sun last week they have procured medical equipment and furniture, including delivery beds, ultrasound machines, vital-signs monitors, anaesthetic machines, and suction machines.

Ithindi said that additional specialised technologies and services will be introduced progressively, depending on operational requirements and resource availability at different facilities.

He also said the orientation and refresher training focused on communication, patient flow management, referral systems and customer service standards as the government moves to integrate medical aid beneficiaries into upgraded public healthcare facilities.

"Refresher training was also conducted specifically for customer care officers to strengthen their ability to manage and integrate Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) beneficiaries into the public healthcare system," he said.

Integration readiness

Ithindi said Cabinet has approved aligning health ministry tariffs with those of PSEMAS and the Namibia Association of Medical Aid Funds for inpatient and non-hospitalisation services rendered at public hospitals.

He said the approval establishes a standardised billing framework and supports the integration of medical aid beneficiaries into the public healthcare system.

“These interventions form part of the ministry's broader agenda aimed at strengthening public healthcare infrastructure, improving service delivery and expanding access to quality healthcare services,” Ithindi explained.

Additionally, Ithindi said the renovated and modernised sections of public hospitals form part of Namibia’s broader health systems strengthening programme linked to the country’s long-term universal health coverage agenda.

Through this exercise, government aims to generate additional revenue from medical aid beneficiaries and cash-paying patients, which will be reinvested in public healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment, service delivery, and maintenance programmes.

Private patients have so far responded positively to the initiative, Ithindi said, with a baseline survey conducted in March among PSEMAS beneficiaries concluding that many respondents were willing to use public healthcare facilities for specialist consultations, outpatient services, diagnostic investigations, and emergency care.

A follow-up survey will be conducted to gather additional feedback on user experiences and utilisation patterns as the wards become fully operational.

Ongoing work

Although no separate staffing framework has yet been created specifically for the private wards, the ministry said existing doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals within the current public health structures are being utilised to provide services.

"The recruitment and placement of specialists and other critical healthcare personnel remain ongoing priorities as the government continues to advertise and fill vacant positions across the health sector," Ithindi said.

He said to strengthen specialist capacity, government has also extended comparable privileges to private medical practitioners, including specialists, allowing them to admit and manage their patients at designated state health facilities.

“Ultimately, the long-term objective is to create a stronger, more resilient and sustainable health system capable of providing quality healthcare services to all Namibians, while reducing inequalities in access to care,” Ithindi said.