Eleven private health practitioners will begin offering free services at Katutura State Hospital starting tomorrow.

This move is part of phase one of the Ministry of Health and Social Services' Decongestion Strategy, which kicks off on July 1st.

The strategy also includes extended hours at Okuryangava and Otjomuise Clinics, now operating from 07:00 to 19:00. Currently, both clinics run from 08:00 to 17:00.

Katutura Hospital remains the only facility with 24-hour service and often faces overcrowding, particularly in the evenings. The eleven doctors will help fill the gap by working from 17:00 to 23:00.

Health Minister Dr. Esperance Luvindao said, “The region has nine clinics, three health centers, and one outreach team, which is not nearly enough. With the Kachutu Health Center currently being the only primary health care facility providing services 24 hours, efforts have been made since the year 2023 to decongest the facility.”

She said those efforts include extended hours at Comus Health Center, Hakana Clinic, Okuryangava, and Otjomuise Clinic, but Kachutu continues to see between 700 and 1,000 patients a day—nearly 20,000 per month.

Dr. Luvindao announced that as of August 1st, the Okuryangava Clinic will begin 24-hour operations.

“Phase one of the Decongestion Strategy includes increasing the number of doctors on the night shift from three to five at the Kachutura Health Centre to reduce patients' waiting time. Demand for health services is highest from about 7pm to midnight,” she said.

She added that the Ministry is also expanding hours at two high-volume clinics and will begin operating on weekends.

Phase two of the strategy, currently under consultation, will include online consultations and possible community service requirements.