The Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Penda Ithindi, shed light on the Vision April 2026, focusing on the plans for public healthcare improvements.

Ithindi clarified that senior government officials and public office bearers would be the only ones involved in the initial phase of Vision April 2026.

"We are talking about a number that is less than 300 in total for the whole country, about 294 in particular, that would be part of phase one. We anticipate running phase one for a minimum of about a year. And of course, it may be fast-tracked or extended depending on the practicalities of what would be phase two."

Eighty-five per cent of the population relies on public healthcare facilities.

"Of course, their costs are minimal, because part of the reform is also to ensure that we provide quality health care services at an affordable cost. Cost and payment for the service are done for the service rendered at the cost centre, where the services are provided. At the facilities where we provide services, collections are conducted at those specific points. Our anticipation in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance is then to say that whatever is collected, the revenue collected, part of it or all of it, is retained in all and redirected and ring-fenced for the purpose of improving the public health system."

He further explains that key health facilities are ready, with extra staff hired using funds from the 2025 budget review.

"The seven health facilities include the four major intermediate hospitals: Rundu, Oshakati, Onandjokwe, and Katutura, as well as the national health facilities, which consist of the Windhoek Central Hospital and two others located in the Erongo region, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay."