Isabel Bento

SWAKOPMUND – Integrity and ethics training is vital for medical officers if they are to deliver healthcare services effectively. 

This was said by Tobias Amoonga, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) head of public education and corruption prevention in the Erongo region, in an interview with the media last week.

Amoonga was speaking on the sidelines of a training workshop on ethics and integrity for Ministry of Health and Social Services’ officials in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

The workshop aimed to equip healthcare workers with the necessary tools to uphold ethical standards, prevent corruption and ensure quality service delivery in the health sector.

He underscored the significance of addressing unethical practices, including bribery, theft of medical supplies and the improper disclosure of patient information.

He said these issues not only compromise patient care, but also erode public trust in healthcare institutions.

“We are educating medical officers who deal with ethical matters to ensure they perform their duties with integrity, and build ethical institutions. This training is part of our mandate to prevent unethical activities such as bribery, and to provide quality healthcare services to patients,” Amoonga said.

He highlighted that some healthcare professionals may be tempted to accept bribes for preferential treatment, disadvantaging those unable to pay, while further pointing out the mismanagement of medicines, which are sometimes taken for personal use rather than being administered to patients in need.

“There is a perception that medical supplies disappear from hospitals, and we aim to prevent this by promoting integrity and accountability among health- care workers. We want health- care providers to be transparent in their operations, and deliver services fairly and ethically,” he said.

While some institutions are lagging, Amoonga applauded institutions such as the Namibia Revenue Agency and the Namibian Police for their proactive approach to ethics training, incorporating it into their employee induction programmes.

The ACC’s ongoing efforts to educate public servants and health professionals on ethics and integrity are part of the broader national strategy to combat corruption, and build a more accountable and transparent society. -Nampa