The Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, has tabled an Amendment Professions Bill that will see all the profession councils merged under the Health Professions Council of Namibia.

The Bill proposes the creation of professional boards and sets forth guidelines for the registration and licencing of health practitioners.

The Bill will replace the existing five health profession councils, which are the Medical and Dental Council, Pharmacy Council, Allied Health Professions Council, Social Work Council, and Psychology Council, and will serve as a single body to regulate and control all health professions in Namibia.

Dr. Shangula emphasised the significance of the Bill, which stipulates the necessary education, training, and qualifications for practitioners, covering specialities, sub-specialities, additional qualifications, and other relevant courses.

The Bill also provides that only registered or licenced individuals may practice and provides a framework for appealing council decisions.

"The law will require that health professionals work in the public sector for a specific period before being licenced to work in the private sector. Another reform included in the bill pertains to the regulation of health institutions and greater control over the registration and licencing of healthcare professionals and pharmacists. The bill also aims to fast-track the investigation of complaints relating to the unprofessional conduct of health professionals. Regulations play a critical function; we need to have a modern, robust, certain, predictable, effective, and efficient regulatory framework for the health sector."