Lahja Nashuuta
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Winnie Moongo, has raised concern over the mushrooming of unregulated health training institutions across Namibia.
Moongo, who is a qualified nurse, in a motion tabled in the National Assembly, this week described the situation as “a serious concern that needs immediate intervention,” warning of the risks posed to the students, the health sector and the general public.
“There are many institutions in Namibia claiming to offer nursing and health training programmes. Some of these institutions are not registered or accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) nor by the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA),” the lawmaker said.
She warned that these institutions often mislead desperate students by offering them qualifications that are not recognised by any legitimate body.
“This leads to young people wasting their time, money and resources obtaining qualifications that are not accepted anywhere,” she said. It further puts the lives of patients at risk when these institutions produce unqualified health practitioners, Moongo said.
She stressed that many of these health training centres are established by individuals who lack both professional credentials and ethical intent.
“Most of them are operated by people who are not qualified to offer training in the health profession, and are only driven by profit motives,” she said.
Citing specific regulatory gaps, the MP questioned how these institutions are allowed to operate unchecked.
“Where are the line ministries and regulatory bodies when these institutions open their doors to the public? Are these institutions inspected regularly? If so, what is the outcome of these inspections?” she asked.
Calling for urgent action, Moongo proposed that the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, as well as the NQA and HPCNA, carry out thorough investigations into these mushrooming training centres.
She also called for existing laws and regulations to be strictly enforced to safeguard public safety and the integrity of the country’s health education system.
Supporting the motion, fellow PDM legislator, Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo noted that the number of institutions offering health-related training programmes had more than doubled from 12 in 2015 to over 30 by early 2024.
“This expansion has not been matched by a proportionate strengthening of regulatory oversight or consistent enforcement of standards by our health regulatory authorities,” she said.
Mbinge-Tjeundo also highlighted the growing concerns around quality.
“According to a 2023 survey by the Namibian Nurses Union, 42% of public and private healthcare employers reported that new nursing graduates and allied health professionals exhibited ‘serious deficiencies’ in basic clinical competencies,” she told parliament.
Mbinge-Tjeundo also cited HPCNA’s 2024 annual report, which revealed a significant gap in competence between graduates of new versus established institutions.
“Failure rates among graduates from newer institutions in professional board examinations averaged 38%, compared to just 12% among graduates from long-established, accredited programmes,” she said.
Beyond quality, she also addressed the misalignment between training output and labour market demand. According to Mbinge-Tjeundo, the Namibia Labour Force Survey 2023 revealed an oversupply of generalist qualifications in nursing and community health work, despite ongoing shortages in specialised fields such as pharmacy, physiotherapy and medical laboratory sciences.
“This mismatch between educational output and labour market demand is contributing to both graduate unemployment and under-employment,” she said.
“Furthermore, many programmes have not integrated current advances and demands in health technology, digital health competencies, or modern interdisciplinary approaches, elements critical to preparing a workforce capable of responding to 21st Century healthcare challenges,” Mbinge-Tjeundo said.