Private investors inject N$25m into new Rundu medical centre
The newly opened N$25 million Kaisosi Medical Centre in Rundu aims to improve healthcare access for communities in the town and surrounding areas, especially for those who struggle to afford private medical services.
Speaking at the official opening on Friday, one of the centre’s founding investors, Johnny Doeseb, said the project was a direct response to repeated calls from health authorities for the private sector to help close gaps in service delivery.
He added that the investors had committed N$25 million to develop a one-stop facility where patients can access multiple health services under one roof.
Doeseb added that the centre intends to operate differently from conventional private facilities by bringing services into communities and homes, particularly where illness makes travel difficult.
Affordability is central to the centre’s mission, he said, emphasising that patients will not be turned away simply because they cannot pay.
“Where people cannot afford, they will not be sent home without being treated,” he vowed, describing the centre as service-oriented rather than profit-driven.
Future plans
The facility includes a radiology department, a pharmacy and a laboratory, addressing long-standing challenges where patients are referred to other regions for certain diagnostic and laboratory services.
Doeseb said the investors are also planning beyond Rundu, with intentions to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Windhoek to produce medicines locally.
“Our responsibility does not end in Kaisosi or Rundu,” he said, noting that several parts of the town still lack access to affordable and essential medical care.
He announced that the centre plans to roll out free testing services, starting with members of the security forces, citing their role in safeguarding the country.
More help available
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, in his keynote address, said the opening of the Kaisosi Medical Centre demonstrates the value of cooperation between government and the private sector. He said the facility will significantly reduce pressure on the existing Kaisosi Clinic, which currently provides primary healthcare services to the community.
Ngurare said the new centre complements public health services by offering doctors’ consultations, ultrasound imaging, laboratory testing and surgical capabilities that are not typically available at clinic level. This will help reduce long queues at state hospitals and improve the speed at which patients receive care, the prime minister said.
Ngurare welcomed the investors’ decision to commit substantial capital to Rundu, saying it reflected confidence in local systems and inclusive development. However, he cautioned that providing healthcare comes with responsibility. “Health is a human right, not a luxury,” he said, urging the centre’s management to ensure services remain accessible to uninsured patients.
Addressing residents, Ngurare said the facility belongs to the community and should be protected and supported, describing it as a meaningful step towards improving healthcare delivery in Kavango East and beyond.
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Speaking at the official opening on Friday, one of the centre’s founding investors, Johnny Doeseb, said the project was a direct response to repeated calls from health authorities for the private sector to help close gaps in service delivery.
He added that the investors had committed N$25 million to develop a one-stop facility where patients can access multiple health services under one roof.
Doeseb added that the centre intends to operate differently from conventional private facilities by bringing services into communities and homes, particularly where illness makes travel difficult.
Affordability is central to the centre’s mission, he said, emphasising that patients will not be turned away simply because they cannot pay.
“Where people cannot afford, they will not be sent home without being treated,” he vowed, describing the centre as service-oriented rather than profit-driven.
Future plans
The facility includes a radiology department, a pharmacy and a laboratory, addressing long-standing challenges where patients are referred to other regions for certain diagnostic and laboratory services.
Doeseb said the investors are also planning beyond Rundu, with intentions to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Windhoek to produce medicines locally.
“Our responsibility does not end in Kaisosi or Rundu,” he said, noting that several parts of the town still lack access to affordable and essential medical care.
He announced that the centre plans to roll out free testing services, starting with members of the security forces, citing their role in safeguarding the country.
More help available
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, in his keynote address, said the opening of the Kaisosi Medical Centre demonstrates the value of cooperation between government and the private sector. He said the facility will significantly reduce pressure on the existing Kaisosi Clinic, which currently provides primary healthcare services to the community.
Ngurare said the new centre complements public health services by offering doctors’ consultations, ultrasound imaging, laboratory testing and surgical capabilities that are not typically available at clinic level. This will help reduce long queues at state hospitals and improve the speed at which patients receive care, the prime minister said.
Ngurare welcomed the investors’ decision to commit substantial capital to Rundu, saying it reflected confidence in local systems and inclusive development. However, he cautioned that providing healthcare comes with responsibility. “Health is a human right, not a luxury,” he said, urging the centre’s management to ensure services remain accessible to uninsured patients.
Addressing residents, Ngurare said the facility belongs to the community and should be protected and supported, describing it as a meaningful step towards improving healthcare delivery in Kavango East and beyond.
[email protected]
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