Namibia reviews private hospital theatre use to reduce surgical backlog

Namibia's Ministry of Health is assessing Windhoek Central Hospital's theatre capacity before deciding on using private hospital theatres to reduce the state surgical waiting list.

Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services is evaluating theatre capacity at Windhoek Central Hospital to consider a proposal allowing state patients to undergo surgery in private hospital theatres during evenings, weekends, and public holidays. The ministry has not finalized the proposal, emphasizing the need to first audit existing state theatre efficiency.

An audit of theatre time at Windhoek Central Hospital has been conducted, and the hospital is reviewing its theatre processes to improve efficiency and increase daily surgeries. Additional theatre time was recently added for urology, a discipline with a significant waiting list. The ministry clarified that private theatre use does not necessarily involve private specialists, as state specialists may perform the surgeries. Discussions continue with private partners, considering resource availability and strategic objectives.