Renthia Kaimbi
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says the new Kaisosi Medical Centre must serve all Namibians and not only those with medical aid.
He stressed that health care must remain a right and not a privilege.
“Health is a human right, not a luxury commodity… I challenge you to structure your services to assist the wider access and delivery of primary health services to all people… not just those with medical aid cards,” Ngurare said at the official opening of the facility on Friday in Rundu.
Ngurare officially opened the Kaisosi Medical Centre, describing it as a key milestone in Namibia’s journey towards universal health coverage (UHC).
He said the facility brings long-awaited relief to residents of Kaisosi, Kehemu and eastern Rundu, who have for years faced long distances and delays in accessing healthcare.
He described the centre as a facility that removes unnecessary costs, reduces inconvenience and speeds up access to treatment.
He said the centre was built after overcoming initial bank rejections and reflects the same resilience shown during Namibia’s liberation struggle, standing on land connected to that history.
The opening comes two months after the launch of the UHC policy. Ngurare said the policy must result in clear and tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary people.
“It means that your bank balance should not determine your life expectancy. It means a mother in labour should not worry about the cost of the delivery before she worries about the health of her baby. It means equitable access to quality health services without suffering financial hardship,” he said.
Ngurare said partnerships between the public and private health sectors are essential in easing pressure on state facilities.
He noted that the new centre will help reduce patient loads at the government-run Kaisosi Clinic and Rundu Intermediate Hospital by offering services such as an operating theatre, ultrasounds and full laboratory diagnostics.
“You are directly alleviating the pressure on our state hospitals. You are reducing the long queues that frustrate our people,” he told the investors and management.
The centre’s investors echoed the call for inclusive access.
The Kaisosi Medical Centre offers doctor and nurse consultations, X-ray and sonar services, a pharmacy, laboratory facilities and full dialysis services, introduced to the community for the first time.
“It proves that development is not measured only by skyscrapers in the capital city but by the ability of a child in Kaisosi to see a doctor within minutes of falling ill.”
Namibia currently scores between 65% and 70% on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Universal Health Coverage index.
He said reaching a target above 80% will require joint effort.
“The demands of our growing population, the burden on our state facilities like the Rundu Intermediate Hospital and the need for specialised diagnostics require a collective effort,” he said.
Managing partner Johnny Johnson Doëseb said the facility was designed to cater for patients with and without medical aid.
“At Kaisosi Medical Centre, patients without medical aid are intentionally catered for through clear cash-fee structures, transparent pricing, and a service model designed to treat insured and uninsured patients with the same level of dignity, efficiency, and clinical attention,” Doëseb stated.
He said the centre aims to eliminate uncertainty for cash-paying patients.
“The goal is to remove uncertainty; patients should not have to wonder whether they will be attended to, how long they will wait, or whether affordability will become a barrier at the point of care.”
Doëseb described the investment as purpose-driven, aimed at strengthening community wellbeing and national development.
