Katima hospital eyes intermediate status
The Namibian Ministry of Health is planning to upgrade Katima Mulilo District Hospital to an intermediate status to reduce the need for patient referrals to distant facilities. The project involves recruiting specialists and introducing advanced medical services like dialysis through a potential public-private partnership.
Why it matters
This initiative addresses critical healthcare access gaps in the Zambezi region, aiming to improve local medical infrastructure and reduce the financial and logistical burden on patients.
Katima Mulilo District Hospital refers an average of 30 patients every month to referral hospitals outside the Zambezi region.
Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao revealed this in the National Assembly while responding to questions from Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) MP Bonny Susiku about the referral of patients from Katima Mulilo to Windhoek and other referral facilities.
Luvindao said the hospital refers patients mainly to Windhoek Central Hospital, Intermediate Hospital Katutura and Rundu Intermediate Hospital when they require specialised medical interventions that are not currently available in Katima Mulilo.
She revealed that the Ministry recorded 372 referrals between April 2024 and March 2025.
Medical cases accounted for the highest number at 94, followed by orthopaedic cases at 69 and paediatric cases at 49. The figures also included 14 maternity cases, 13 new oncology cases and nine gynaecology cases.
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