State-owned air ambulance takes flight

Namibia has launched its first state-owned air ambulance service to improve access to emergency medical care, particularly for patients in remote areas.

Officiating at the launch on Wednesday, Vice President Lucia Witbooi described the initiative as a major step towards universal health coverage.

“No Namibian should lose their life simply because they live far from a hospital,” Witbooi said.

She said the initiative's success would ultimately be measured by lives saved, tragedies prevented and “hope swiftly restored to families”.

The air ambulance service comprises a Learjet fitted with advanced medical equipment to function as an intensive care unit, alongside helicopter evacuation services facilitated through collaboration with the Namibian Police and the Namibian Defence Force.

Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said the health ministry had not spent any money on acquiring the jet. The refurbished aircraft was donated by the works and transport ministry, she explained.

More hospitals a priority

Luvindao acknowledged concerns about a shortage of referral hospitals but stressed that the air ambulance service did not signal an abandonment of government's plans to expand healthcare infrastructure.

“Building hospitals requires money – hundreds of millions, sometimes into billions at referral levels. The ministry has gone back to the drawing board and said, 'What can we do in the interim?'”, she said.

She said the ministry is “working very hard to ensure that we construct the top four hospitals in the next few years. But while we build those hospitals, Namibians need service and urgent transportation”.

Medicine shortages persist

The launch comes against the backdrop of ongoing medicine shortages at state health facilities.

Martha Namadi told Namibian Sun yesterday that her family regularly struggles to obtain chronic medication for her mother and brother.

“The shortage of medication is real,” she said.

“My mother takes medication for high blood pressure, but it is often unavailable. My brother takes medication for his mental health, and we have to buy it from private pharmacies every month,” Namadi added.

Shortages of diabetes and hypertension medication have also been reported at Omuthiya State Hospital and in Rehoboth. In Windhoek, heart medication has reportedly been unavailable for up to three months, while concerns have also been raised about medicines for cancer patients.

In May, health ministry executive director Penda Ithindi acknowledged public frustration, saying the ministry was working to restore its procurement system and improve the reliability of its pharmaceutical supply chain. Ithindi said emergency and direct procurement were being used to address immediate shortages, while bulk purchasing arrangements were being pursued to stabilise supplies.

In August, the ministry announced that 58 critically needed medical products had been received and distributed since mid-July.

No further updates were available at the time of publication.