The Chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Muha, has highlighted Namibia’s progress in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC), noting that the country’s UHC policy was formally approved in February 2025.

Speaking at the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Annual Conference in Banjul, The Gambia, Muha underscored the crucial role African parliaments play in making healthcare accessible and affordable. He moderated a panel discussion featuring representatives from The Gambia and Rwanda.

The conference, themed “The Role of African Parliaments in Ensuring Accessible and Affordable Healthcare in the Context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”, brought together lawmakers from across the continent to exchange experiences and best practices.

In his opening remarks, Muha described UHC as a fundamental human right rather than just a policy objective. He pointed to the persistent challenges many African nations face in ensuring healthcare access and affordability, stressing the responsibility of parliaments to shape policies that guarantee quality, affordable services for all.

The panel discussion examined ways African parliaments can strengthen healthcare systems, promote equity in access and eliminate financial barriers. Muha said the goal was to produce concrete recommendations that would help parliaments across the continent advance UHC and improve public health outcomes.