Heart surgery breakthrough to save govt millions

Namibia has reached a significant milestone in healthcare with a breakthrough in the treatment of congenital heart conditions, which is set to save the government millions of dollars every year.It costs the state up to N$4 million to send one patient abroad for the procedure in question. But last week, a Namibian team of specialists - led by the head of the department for paediatric and congenital cardiology at Windhoek Central Hospital, Dr Fenny Shidhika - performed nine complex heart surgeries. This includes several highly complex neonatal surgeries.The patients included a baby as young as 18 days old, and another 13-month-old toddler who had been dependent on supplemental oxygen since birth.Operations on young patients are particularly complex because babies have immature organs that are extremely vulnerable after exposure to cardiopulmonary bypass, also known as a heart-lung machine. Their tiny hearts - each about the size of a walnut - make these procedures even more precise and complex.Shidhika, Dr Alfred Mureko and Dr Ismail Awala were supported by a surgeon from Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospital in the United Kingdom, Dr Mohamed Nassar.Dedicated budgetShidhika, Namibia&#039;s first female paediatric cardiologist, said the country is privileged that government has allocated a dedicated budget for cardiovascular services. The latter is part of the overall expenditure on health and comprises 8% to 9% of the gross domestic product (GDP).She explained the financing model follows a tax-based approach to healthcare, similar to the Beveridge system, by covering more than 90% of the population without private health insurance. Currently, the budget is only about N$7 million to N$8 million, which is insufficient for the needs of both the adult and paediatric population who require specialised care.Shidhika recently completed her master of science degree in health economics, outcomes and management in cardiovascular sciences from the London School of Economics and Political Science."The Namibian government bears a significant part of the national burden of heart disease. As a result, the Namibia Children&#039;s Heart Trust was established to ensure accessible, affordable and equal care for all children and adults born with heart disease, regardless of their socioeconomic status. The trust is run on the principle that quality healthcare is driven by need, and not by the ability to pay for it," Shidhika explained.Surgical teamThe surgical programme for congenital heart disease in Namibia was started in September 2018 and includes Mureko, the first Namibian adult cardiothoracic and congenital heart surgeon, and Awala, an adult cardiothoracic surgeon.Also part of the highly skilled team is Dr Nicolaas Feris, the first Namibian cardiac anaesthetist, and Siphamandla Simelane, a South African cardiovascular perfusionist responsible for the management of the cardiopulmonary bypass machine. The team is supported by specialists Dr Kaiser Fitzwanga and Dr Tjiandjeua Kandetu, who specialise in the care and treatment of paediatric patients in intensive care."The Namibian government has invested significantly in training and developing the skills of specialists. It costs the government an average of N$7 million to N$10 million to train one sub-specialist, mostly in South Africa, and which covers salaries and expenses for training. The investment is essential to build a skilled, multi-disciplinary team that can meet the country&#039;s needs for heart health," Shidhika said.Significant savingAccording to the health ministry’s executive director Ben Nangombe, the breakthrough will save the government millions of dollars in logistics and operations carried out outside the country."We spend millions of dollars on these operations in South Africa, Zimbabwe or Kenya. We have to pay for air ambulances for the patients we send and for their accompanying family members, as well as the operation and the patient&#039;s aftercare. It can cost up to N$4 million for one patient. We also need to think about the anxiety and uncertainty we reduce when we don&#039;t have to send patients across the country&#039;s borders for surgery. Imagine a person having to fly three or four hours for such an operation. Sometimes patients have to travel as far as Germany or Austria and these can be people who have never been outside the country&#039;s borders," Nangombe said.Meanwhile, hours of travel for an operation can have a significant impact on the patient&#039;s health. Despite the breakthrough, Nangombe explained that there may still be exceptional cases that will need to be treated abroad.

Heart surgery breakthrough to save govt millions

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

Please login to leave a comment

Heart surgery breakthrough to save govt millions

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

Please login to leave a comment

Login