WINDHOEK: The government has taken steps to create a unified Health Professions Council of Namibia. This council will replace the five existing health professions councils and will act as the statutory body for regulating and overseeing the various health professions in Namibia.

To bring this into effect, Health and Social Services Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula tabled the Health Professions Council of Namibia Bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Shangula stated that the Bill provides for the establishment of a single Health Professions Council of Namibia, which will serve as the umbrella body to regulate and control the health professions in Namibia. The new body will merge the Social Work and Psychology Council of Namibia, the Allied Health Professions Council of Namibia, the Nursing Council of Namibia, the Pharmacy Council of Namibia, and the Medical and Dental Council of Namibia into a single entity.

‘It is a well-known fact that Namibia is not self-sufficient with respect to healthcare professional
s. In professions where significant numbers have been trained, we have faced challenges in deploying them to areas of the country and in localities where they are most needed.

‘The Bill seeks to address this anomaly. This will be done through the introduction of the public service as a category of professional registration for health workers. This will help to address the shortage of scarce skills in underserved areas of the country,’ he said.

Once passed, the new law will also require health professionals to work in the public sector for a specified period before being licensed 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 licensing of healthcare professionals and pharmacists. The Bill also aims to fast-track the investigation of complaints relating to unprofessional conduct on the part of a health professional,’ Shangula explained.

He therefore urged his fellow lawmakers to support the p
assage of the Bill.

‘The passage of the Bill sets the foundation for effective administration and patient safety,’ he added.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency