Telehealth expansion to target ‘underserved’ rural health gaps

For thousands of Namibians living in remote parts of the country, far from clinics and hospitals, access to healthcare may soon depend less on distance and more on digital connection.

Government has pledged to prioritise rural communities in its sweeping new national digital health policy (2026–2036), with plans to expand telehealth services nationwide in a bid to bridge persistent inequalities.

Launching the policy in Windhoek this month, health minister Esperance Luvindao said equitable access is central to the country’s digital transformation agenda.

“We are prioritising the underserved,” Luvindao said. “This objective focuses on ensuring equitable access to quality health services through gradual expansion of telehealth to all regions and implementing integrated digital health solutions for community health.”

The policy sets out a 10-year blueprint to modernise Namibia’s health system through digital technologies, including electronic medical records (EMRs), broadband connectivity at health facilities, artificial intelligence and interoperable data systems.

Luvindao described the moment as a turning point.

“Today, we stand at a defining threshold in the history of our nation’s health,” she said.

She said the policy is a blueprint "that will define the next decade of digital innovations in the delivery of healthcare services in our country".

She framed it as both a technical roadmap and a moral commitment.

“This policy is more than a technical roadmap; it is a national commitment,” Luvindao said. “It is a promise that no one in Namibia will be left behind due to lack of information or access.”

Bridging the gap

The minister acknowledged that while Namibia has made significant progress in combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, deep structural and technological gaps remain. “We face a double burden of disease, with a rising tide of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, demanding sustainable and integrated care,” she said. “Inequalities in access to health services persist, especially for our rural communities, and continue to be compounded by an unevenly distributed health workforce.”

The minister painted a stark picture of the human cost of fragmented systems, noting that existing digital initiatives often operate in isolation.

“Our current digital efforts, while pioneering, often operate in silos,” she said. “A system for HIV may not communicate well with a system for patient records or the medicines supply chain management.”

She added that this lack of interoperability, combined with limited digital literacy and the absence of a strong regulatory framework, has slowed progress. “This fragmentation carries a human cost,” Luvindao said. “We needed this policy to end that fragmentation, to overcome geographic barriers and to leverage technology to optimise resources and ensure equitable access for all.”

Connection boost

Under the new framework, the ministry has committed to building a secure and interoperable digital health infrastructure, including the expansion of broadband connectivity to all health facilities and the rollout of functional electronic medical records. “This means expanding broadband to all health facilities, equipping them with functional electronic medical records, and enforcing national interoperability standards to enable seamless data exchange,” she said.

The policy is anchored on six objectives: robust governance, integrated infrastructure, workforce empowerment, innovation, equitable access and sustainable financing.

On governance, Luvindao said the policy aligns with national laws, including the Data Protection Bill, to ensure an ethical and secure implementation.

She confirmed that drafting of a dedicated Digital Health Bill has already begun.

“The envisaged bill will establish the regulatory and legal certainty to protect patient privacy, ensure data security and govern digital health providers.”

Streamlining processes

Recognising concerns among healthcare workers about the demands of digital transformation, the minister sought to reassure frontline staff that they would be supported. “I know that ‘digital transformation’ can sound like a burden. But I want you to own this policy,” she said. “We are building this for you, to liberate you from administrative bottlenecks so that you can focus on what you do best: saving and improving lives.”

Digital health training will be integrated into pre-service and in-service curricula to strengthen workforce capacity.

To development partners, including the World Health Organization, Luvindao expressed appreciation for technical support and called for continued collaboration.