President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she is investigating reports of persistent medicine shortages in state health facilities, including possible sabotage within the overall health system.

She suspects distribution failures are preventing medicines from reaching patients, despite improvements in the government procurement process.

Long queues, overcrowded clinics and shortages of essential medicines continue to frustrate patients in Namibia's public health system.

The crisis came under scrutiny during a townhall meeting in Swakopmund, where a resident questioned whether the government was running out of money, given the shortage of medicines in state hospitals and clinics experienced in Erongo and other regions.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah responded, saying medicine procurement has improved.

However, she admitted that distribution remains a major concern.

"Everywhere I'm going, I'm hearing this. And I'm just asking what is happening because, in terms of the medicine we are buying, there is an improvement from what we were having prior to this administration. I'm hearing there's a problem of distribution."

The president informed the Erongo residents that some officials are already under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission, while others have been transferred.

The government is now exploring technology to track medicines from the point of arrival until they reach patients at health facilities.

But the President has not ruled out deliberate interference within the system.

"Whether it is now sabotage, which is there for people really not to like this government, is something I'm working on very seriously to see what is really happening."