Systems must improve medical stores
Management of data, service delivery
A service level of just over 60% was the order of the day at the central medical stores last year, with a rate of 90% needed to be able to provide efficient service.According to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, the reason for the lack of availability of medication is mainly due to a lack of long-term contracts for the purchase and supply of pharmaceutical products.
When discussing his ministry's budget of N$9.6 billion, Shangula said that various systems will be implemented at the stores in an effort to improve the management of data and also service delivery.
With reference to specialized services, 10 739 outpatients were seen at the Central Hospital's cardiac unit, while 116 open heart operations were performed here. Namibia is one of only a few countries in Africa where local cardiologists and cardio-thoracic surgeons perform open-heart surgeries trained by the ministry's human resource development programme.
Shangula was full of praise for the country which has already come a long way in reaching the 95-95-95 target for Namibians living with HIV/AIDS. In Namibia, 92% of HIV-positive people are aware of their status, 99% of the latter are on treatment and 94% of those on treatment have had their viral load suppressed.
Measures to curb tuberculosis (TB) in the country have also been stepped up with testing campaigns launched in Otjozondjupa and Hardap. The success rate of treatment for TB currently stands at 82% followed by a 100% success rate for leprosy.
Other issues
Some of the medical equipment purchased last year includes two mammogram machines, 170 incubators, 13 X-ray machines, as well as 28 dialysis machines.
Shangula says that although the number of Covid-19 cases has decreased significantly, it still remains a threat to health. He therefore expressed concern about the vaccination rate of the eligible population which stood at 28% by 14 March.
According to the minister, more than 10 000 people living with disabilities have benefited from, among other things, prostheses that were purchased at a cost of N$7.3 million. More than 200 people received wheelchairs.
Referring to internships at registered facilities, Shangula says the capacity has been increased from 330 to 612. Thanks to this, the ministry was able to accommodate all 315 medical graduates for their internship. Other medical-related graduates who were able to start their internships include 45 pharmacists, 19 dentists, nine occupational therapists, four physiotherapists and two psychologists.
During the 2022-23 financial year, a total of 306 Namibians studied as part of Project 2013. Of these, 49 dentists and 12 doctors completed their studies in July 2022.
In the next financial year, 181 doctors and two physiotherapy students will complete their studies. During the current financial year, 27 medical officers completed their respective specialist programmes, while 13 are expected to complete their studies next year.
With reference to infrastructure, Shangula says oxygen plants will be set up early in the new financial year at the district hospitals on Okahao, Eenhana, Okongo and Andarra. The plan is also to purchase plants for the remaining 27 public hospitals.
Shangula says 53 patients were treated at the Etegameno rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addiction, while 286 health workers at 18 health facilities received training to identify the early abuse of substances and refer them to social workers. The ministry has also started with the development of a program for outpatients which is currently only offered at the Rundu State Hospital, but which will later be extended to the rest of the country.
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