Health ministry eager to address staff shortages
Minister of health and social services Dr Kalumbi Shangula has announced that the ministry has requested the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to abolish 1 784 posts and create 1 871 new ones, resulting in a net gain of 87 positions.
Shangula made these remarks during the ministerial planning and financial management meeting on Tuesday, where he discussed the finalisation of recruitment plans for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years.
He said the ministry has also identified 1 493 additional posts and 861 positions for new services needed to align with the current health service needs of the population.
Shangula acknowledged that Namibia has been battling a shortage of healthcare workers and the ministry’s decision to create these posts is part of its efforts to eliminate this problem.
“It is through proficient planning and sound financial management that we can secure the success of our health sector. Effective financial management is the cornerstone of advancing our aspirations, turning them into tangible outcomes that improve lives and promote health equity,” he said.
Charting a course
Shangula said as a ministry they have reflected on the past year and look to the future to consider how they will continue to improve, expand, strengthen and grow the provision of public health and social services and to respond to the needs of the citizens across the country.
“Our objective for this meeting is to chart a course that will allow us to improve services and efficiently manage resources to fulfil our core mission, namely to provide integrated affordable, accessible quality health care and social services that are responsive to the needs of the population,” he said.
Shangula added that through strategic planning and budgeting, efforts to address critical areas such as reducing maternal, neonatal and child mortality are also being refined to invest in programmes like comprehensive maternal and neonatal health care.
Shangula made these remarks during the ministerial planning and financial management meeting on Tuesday, where he discussed the finalisation of recruitment plans for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years.
He said the ministry has also identified 1 493 additional posts and 861 positions for new services needed to align with the current health service needs of the population.
Shangula acknowledged that Namibia has been battling a shortage of healthcare workers and the ministry’s decision to create these posts is part of its efforts to eliminate this problem.
“It is through proficient planning and sound financial management that we can secure the success of our health sector. Effective financial management is the cornerstone of advancing our aspirations, turning them into tangible outcomes that improve lives and promote health equity,” he said.
Charting a course
Shangula said as a ministry they have reflected on the past year and look to the future to consider how they will continue to improve, expand, strengthen and grow the provision of public health and social services and to respond to the needs of the citizens across the country.
“Our objective for this meeting is to chart a course that will allow us to improve services and efficiently manage resources to fulfil our core mission, namely to provide integrated affordable, accessible quality health care and social services that are responsive to the needs of the population,” he said.
Shangula added that through strategic planning and budgeting, efforts to address critical areas such as reducing maternal, neonatal and child mortality are also being refined to invest in programmes like comprehensive maternal and neonatal health care.
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