By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Recipients of State social grants and allowances will be exempted from paying fees for medical services, in a Government move to bring more relief to the disadvantaged groups.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services announced the exemption recently.
The initiative to provide free medical care to pensioners, people living with disabilities and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in all Government health facilities comes through the realisation by the government that paying medical fees has become expensive for these people as they frequent medical centres.
Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, made the announcement in Rundu recently.
The decision for the waiver was taken early this year during a consultative meeting with all Regional Health Directors in Otjiwarongo.
Yesterday, the Director of Social Welfare Services in the ministry, Batseba Katjiuongua, confirmed to New Era that the decision was taken following the ministry’s policy that demands that all Namibians should have access to health care.
“It is out of that commitment that Government wants to look after its people,” she added.
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