A bold statement frames the issue: healthcare access should be a universal right, not a perk reserved for those who carry medical aid. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare emphasizes that the new Kaisosi Medical Centre in Rundu must serve all Namibians and not discriminate by insurance status.
Ngurare urged that health care be structured to broaden access to essential primary services for everyone, not just cardholders. Speaking at the facility’s official opening on Friday, he described the Kaisosi Medical Centre as a significant milestone on Namibia’s path toward universal health coverage (UHC). The center is expected to bring relief to residents of Kaisosi, Kehemu, and eastern Rundu, who have long faced long travel distances and delays when seeking care. He highlighted that the new facility cuts unnecessary costs, reduces inconvenience, and speeds up treatment.
He noted that the project survived early financing rejections and stands as a symbol of resilience akin to Namibia’s liberation struggle, built on land with historical significance linked to that history.
The opening coincides with the launch of Namibia’s UHC policy two months earlier. Ngurare argued that UHC must translate into tangible improvements in everyday life: your bank balance should not dictate your life expectancy; a mother in labor should not worry about the cost of delivery before the health of her baby; and everyone should access quality health services without financial hardship.
Ngurare also called for strong public–private partnerships to ease pressure on state facilities. He explained that Kaisosi Medical Centre will help reduce patient loads at the government Kaisosi Clinic and Rundu Intermediate Hospital by offering services such as an operating theatre, ultrasound, and full laboratory diagnostics.
He told investors and facility managers that they are easing the burden on state hospitals and shortening queues that frustrate people.
Investors at Kaisosi echoed the message of inclusive access. The centre provides doctor and nurse consultations, X-ray and ultrasound services, a pharmacy, laboratory facilities, and full dialysis capabilities—services being introduced to the community for the first time.
“Development is not measured only by skyscrapers in the capital; it is shown when a child in Kaisosi can see a doctor within minutes of falling ill,” one official remarked.
Namibia’s current WHO Universal Health Coverage index hovers around 65–70%. Reaching a target above 80% will require concerted effort, Ngurare said, noting that a growing population, the load on facilities like Rundu Intermediate Hospital, and the need for specialized diagnostics demand collective action.
Managing partner Johnny Johnson Doëseb stressed that Kaisosi Medical Centre is designed to serve both insured and uninsured patients. He described the facility’s clear cash-fee structure, transparent pricing, and a care model that treats all patients with the same dignity, efficiency, and clinical attention. He also highlighted that the center removes uncertainty for cash-paying patients, so people won’t wonder about access, wait times, or affordability at the point of care. Doëseb called the investment purpose-driven, aimed at strengthening community well-being and national development.
