EDITORIAL: Not every government function must be outsourced

Recently, local sustainable development expert Harald Schütt slammed the commercialisation of food in Namibia, saying it exacerbated hunger.His remarks, made at a human rights event hosted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), reminded us of how the state in Namibia washed its hands of feeding patients at public hospitals by outsourcing that function to private commercial entities.Recently, patients at Onandjokwe hospital complained that the hospital, which is served by a private caterer, had run out of cutlery. But tools of the trade aside, many hospitals have had patients complaining about inadequate, non-nutritious food being served to them by these entities.In the past, state hospitals had a kitchen, manned by government employees, which carried out the duties of feeding patients. That regime was embedded in a duty of care and compassion. But this has now been replaced by entities for whom profit is king. It is no wonder the ministry of health is currently in court, struggling to rid itself of one such entity, whose lucrative contract has come to an end but it is refusing to pack up and leave.Caught in the middle of this drama are patients, who need healing instead of being in the crossfire of these self-serving fights. The state does not have to outsource each of the functions and duties we, the people, have entrusted it with. Commercialising hospital food, where rations are measured against profits, are signs of a government that has long stopped caring about its sick population.

EDITORIAL: Not every government function must be outsourced

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-05

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EDITORIAL: Not every government function must be outsourced

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-05

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