Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The Namibia Nurses Union (NANU) Secretary General, Junias Shilunga, says the growing number of private health training institutions contributes to poorly trained healthcare workers and compromises the quality of healthcare in the country.
Shilunga made these remarks in an interview with Windhoek Observer, responding to criticisms of private nursing schools from members of parliament.
These institutions, he said, are more focused on profit-making than improving Namibia’s healthcare system.
The National Assembly is preparing to debate a motion on the regulation of the increasing number of nursing schools and other health training institutions.
This comes as last week, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Winnie Moongo tabled a motion to address the issue, warning that the rapid rise of health-related training institutions is causing significant problems within the system.
Moongo argued that the growth of these institutions might seem to increase access to education, but it has revealed deeper issues impacting hospitals, clinics, and health facilities across the country.
Shilunga echoed Moongo’s concerns, noting that the union has raised these issues with authorities many times without any resolution.
He condemned the closure of public health training centres, which once trained nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers. He argued that these centres were essential for the health sector and properly regulated.
Shilunga also questioned the quality and qualifications of lecturers at these private institutions.
“One may ask, who trained these tutors at those institutions, what qualifications do they hold, and are they truly qualified to teach and train competent healthcare workers?” He asked.
Another issue, according to Shilunga, is the duplication of tasks among educational regulatory bodies such as the Health Professional Council of Namibia (HPCNA) and the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA).
Both institutions have mandates to approve and regulate health training institutions, which has created confusion.
He highlighted that the HPCNA may approve some institutions, but the NQA may not accredit them.
This discrepancy, he said, along with the influx of students, has overwhelmed hospitals, placing additional pressure on nurses who must train these students while also caring for patients.
PDM parliamentarian Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo also supported Moongo’s motion.
She had noted that the expansion of health training institutions has not been matched by stronger regulatory oversight or consistent enforcement of standards by health authorities.
Data from 2024 shows that 4,655 students are enrolled across the seven institutions registered with the council.
