The Ministry of Health and Social Services has inaugurated the first state-owned Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at the Windhoek Central Hospital.
The introduction of the machine is reassurance that public health patients can and must enjoy quality health services similar to those available in the private sector.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister in the Presidency, Charles Mubita, said over 4,000 patients were sent to the private sector for MRI services in the past five years at a cost of N$80 million. The government invested over N$40 million in the MRI facility.
"To bring about a system change, there has to be an entry point and next steps. During this financial year, the government will commence with the procurement and installation of the second MRI machine at Oshakati Intermediate Hospital. This will expand access to advanced diagnostic imaging in the northern populous regions and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to Windhoek or to be referred to private facilities at a high price tag."
Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao highlighted that even though MRI technology was incorporated in Namibia's private healthcare for more than 20 years, this is the first step toward closing the gap.
"We're not merely celebrating the machine; we are celebrating the empowerment that comes with providing quality healthcare to the ordinary Namibian. However, this initiative does not stop at the north, as it is important to recognise that the north is not a single region, just as the south is not. Therefore, we have expanded our efforts beyond MRI machines. This financial year, we are actively engaged in the procurement process for CT scans to ensure that regions which have never had access to CT scans since independence will finally receive this critical technology."
Superintendent at the Windhoek Central Hospital, Dr Shitaleni Herman, stated that the MRI machine will enhance and transform patient healthcare services.
"This hospital boasts some of the top specialists, including neurosurgeons, paediatric surgeons, and paediatricians, as well as other specialists not readily available in the private sector. When specialised care is not accessible elsewhere, patients turn to us. We receive patients daily from the private sector who seek treatment at Central Hospital," he said.
Dr Herman added that the Windhoek Central Hospital serves patients from across the country. "Our hospital caters to those travelling from as far as 1,500 kilometres away, including from the Zambezi and Kunene regions in the north and from areas in the south, all coming to Windhoek Central Hospital. What I am emphasising is that this hospital is truly the home of Namibians."