Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said every Namibian deserves access to quality healthcare as the government works to strengthen the country's health system under the NDP 6 plan.

During his visit to the Swakopmund State Hospital, Ngurare said quality healthcare must remain a priority.

He highlighted that his visit was not intended to shame or expose healthcare workers but to understand their challenges and encourage better service delivery. 

"Since independence, our government has prioritised two things in our budget, health and education, for 36 years, and this financial year is the same. We recommend them for the work that they are doing under the circumstances. What we have heard is a commitment from the Health Regional Director, as well as the Governor in the CRO and the senior medical offices, that they are committed to making sure that this hospital serves the people of Namibia. The population has increased the certain challenges that we are facing, and we have taken note of those challenges. We have undertaken them, as we must implement them as of Monday."

However, healthcare workers said overcrowding and limited resources continue to put pressure on service delivery.

Senior registered nurse and midwife Rosina Hishitile further said the Swakopmund District Hospital faces a shortage of medication and beds, which also compromises patients' privacy.

"Our rooms were designed to be a two-bed capacity, despite us having four patients in one room, and at times when it's so busy, we even used to have patients that are in the corridors, and it's also not ideal privacy-wise; we are compromising the privacy of the patients. Even for service delivery, we only have one delivery bed, and if you find yourself that you are overwhelmed, there are a lot of women that are coming in labour."

Chief Regional Officer of the Erongo Regional Council, Dr Mupenzeni Ntelamo, added that slow decision-making is another challenge.

He pointed out that matters that could be resolved at a lower level sometimes have to be referred to higher offices, delaying responses and service provision.

"That authority that we are having now over the Director rate really is very smooth. We had an introspective meeting with the Ministry of Health last week to shave the mod what and what is not what, and we are still entangled in the decision-making process where, as for even smaller things, somebody in Windhoek has to decide how it will be executed. I think that is a challenge when it comes to decentralisation."