N$12.6m for medical vehicles, wheelchairs
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, announced that four trucks and 420 wheelchairs - worth N$10.6 million and N$2 million respectively - will be procured for the central medical stores (CMS).The trucks will be used for the transport and distribution of pharmaceutical and clinical supplies across the country.
Shangula also officially opened the annual national forum for pharmaceutical services. The supplies will be distributed nationwide to 40 healthcare facilities over a six-week cycle.
According to the minister, local medical stores and the facilities directly served by the CMS provide pharmaceutical and clinical supplies to more than 350 health care facilities.
“Namibia operates a product-integrated pharmaceutical supply chain where the CMS – a division within the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services in the ministry – is responsible for the planning, storage and distribution of all pharmaceutical and clinical supplies for use in all local public health facilities in Namibia.
"Based on several visits to surrounding countries to assess the pharmaceutical and clinical supplies network, I can confidently say Namibia's pharmaceutical and clinical supplies network is one of some of the best functional networks in the region."
Obsolete fleet
Shangula touched on challenges related to the increase in demand for services coupled with the ministry's aging fleet.
"The ministry has decided to improve the delivery fleet's capacity by acquiring these new trucks. One of the trucks was purchased in 2021 and the latest three arrived in 2023. The total cost of these trucks is estimated to be N$10.6 million. This cost includes the necessary modifications to make the trucks fit for purpose," he added.
N$9.6 billion from the national budget for 2023-24 has been allocated to the Ministry of Health.
“Prior to the acquisition of the four trucks we are introducing today, the CMS distribution fleet consisted of only five state-owned trucks. These trucks are outdated and have high mileage readings. Not only does this make the operating costs of the fleet very high, but the aging fleet was also extremely inadequate to keep up with an increased delivery frequency," said Shangula.
The minister said there is a waiting list for wheelchairs, with 590 children and more than 1 200 adults nationwide still on the list. "This is a stark reminder of the work ahead. The current shipment consists mostly of wheelchairs for adult-sized individuals. It is therefore important that the ministry quickly purchase the next round of wheelchairs, specifically for children."