Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has admitted that stockouts of chronic medication remain an ongoing issue despite efforts to deliver supplies to regional facilities through the Central Medical Stores.
Spokesperson Walters Kamaya said the ministry has been actively dispatching medication in response to reported shortages.
“Last week, we were actively engaged in delivering supplies through our Central Medical Stores (CMS).through our Central Medical Stores (CMS). We were dispatched to the regions. The issue of stockouts has been ongoing, but we have tried to resolve it,” he said.
Kamaya explained that some delays result from coordination challenges between the central stores and health facilities.
“Sometimes people say we have stock, but when we take stock of what we have, then we discover stockouts. But last week we were busy delivering the items we had just ordered,” he added.
The ministry responded to concerns from Namibians living with chronic conditions.
They say they are forced to turn to private pharmacies due to recurring medication shortages in public hospitals.
Group spokesperson Stephen Bellthe medicines listed on the Namibia Essential Medicines List (NEMLIST), which excludes many specialised (NEMLIST), which excludes many specialised or newer treatments needed for chronic care.
He added that patients pay more because of taxes added at various points along the supply chain.
Bellesini proposed creating a logistics fund to support chronic care and urged the government to enter direct import agreements with pharmaceutical companies to reduce medicine costs.
While healthcare services like consultations and treatments are exempt from VAT under the VAT Act, this exemption does not extend to goods such as medication imported or sold by private pharmacies and medical practitioners.
As a result, most chronic medications are subject to the standard 15% VAT rate.
In a public statement titled “Taxing the Sick: Why Namibia Must Abolish VAT on Chronic Medication”, a group of rural-based Namibians supported Bellesini’s call.
They cited Article 95 of the Constitution, which obliges the State to promote public welfare and ensure access to health services, as well as Namibia’s obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
At the time of publication, Bellesini said he had not received a formal response from government officials, though several members of the public have expressed similar concerns.
