Stefanus Nashama
The executive director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe, said no Namibian should pay bribes to obtain medical care at the state’s healthcare facilities.
He also said the government policy does not require the elderly, persons with disabilities, and veterans of the liberation struggle to pay anything for the health services they receive.
“All health services provided by the ministry are free of charge, save for a once-off token payment of N$4 for those with the means to pay at a clinic. No individual is turned away or refused services even if they are not able to pay the token fee,” Nangombe said.
He said this in a statement on Monday, following a survey report by Afrobarometer that found that 15 percent of Namibians who had visited public clinics and hospitals in the past 12 months had to pay bribes to obtain medical care.
“Facilities found that among 60 percent of Namibians who contacted a public clinic or hospital in the past 12 months, 40 percent of them allegedly reported that it was somewhat difficult or very difficult to obtain the medical care they needed, and 15 percent of them allegedly said they had to pay a bribe in order to obtain medical care,” stated the survey.
The survey was conducted on the perceptions of paying bribes at public health facilities between March and April this year.
Nangombe reaffirmed the ministry’s mandate to deliver integrated, affordable, and accessible health services that meet the needs of all Namibians.
He further revealed that the government has established a special fund to assist people with uncommon illnesses.
“This provides financial assistance for people requiring complex medical procedures, treatments, or operations, such as surgeries, that are not available in public health facilities,” he said.
According to Nangombe, the ministry was aware of the survey, and the findings are being investigated.
“We take note that a non-representative sample of 1 200 out of approx. 3 022 401 Namibians (0.04% of Namibians) reportedly took part in the Afrobarometer Survey,” he said.
He urged all ministry staff members to follow the ministry’s customer service charter as well as the patient charter and conduct themselves professionally and ethically at all times.
“At the centre of these undertakings are accountability, dignity, and safe and effective services. The ministry states categorically that we do not condone or countenance unethical or corrupt conduct, such as the soliciting or payment of bribes to its health workers,” he stated.
“Given the set-up of our public health delivery model at health facilities, opportunities for offering, soliciting, and payment of bribes would hardly arise,” he added.
At the same time, he stated that public health facilities cater to about 85 percent of the country’s population.
“In order to carry out this mandate, the ministry has a network of health facilities all over Namibia, ranging from health outreach points, health posts, clinics, and health centres to district and intermediate hospitals as well as referral hospitals,” he stressed.
Nangombe has since appealed to members of the public to report the matter to the relevant authority, should they become aware of such corrupt practices taking place at our health facilities.
