Niita Evaristus 

In a world where 70% of medical decisions hinge on pathology testing, the Namibia Institute of Pathology Limited (NIP) stands as the unshakeable backbone of the nation’s healthcare system.  

From determining HIV viral loads to detecting drug-resistant tuberculosis strains, NIP’s precision directly shapes patient outcomes. 

As CEO, Kapena Tjombonde during Laboratory Professionals Week 2025 stated: “In total, we have about 75% of the total employees in the laboratory space to support the lab professionals to deliver quality diagnostic services across its network”. 

The consequences of faltering pathology services are stark. 

Inaccurate results lead to incorrect treatments, prolonged suffering and avoidable fatalities. 

For a nation where 80% rely on public healthcare, this scenario is not hypothetical. 

 NIP’s network of 37 laboratories – a 44.11% expansion since 2000 – anchors this system. 

The institute’s Hub-Spoke-Node operating model epitomises efficiency: advanced testing is centralised at the National Reference Laboratory “hub”, while regional “spoke” and smaller “node” facilities ensure rapid specimen collection and result dissemination. 

This model has slashed referral delays, particularly for critical care with the progressive replacement of the 80% aged instrument. 

During crises like Covid-19, NIP’s agility shone. 

Collaborations with regional and global partners enabled rapid testing and genomic surveillance, curbing transmission and informing policy. 

Such responsiveness is not incidental.

It is baked into NIP’s DNA as a strategic public enterprise balancing commercial viability with public service. 

NIP’s impact transcends diagnostics. 

Recognising the acute shortage of skilled professionals, pathologists, medical technologists and phlebotomists, the institute has forged transformative partnerships with academia. 

The Biomedical Science programme at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), developed in collaboration with NIP, produces graduates ready to tackle Namibia’s health challenges. 

Over 50 interns annually gain hands-on experience through NIP’s work integrated learning initiative. 

Tjombonde noted that “a further significant initiative is the graduate development programme at NIP, designed to identify and onboard qualified graduates in medical laboratory science, for providing them with an opportunity to learn on the job to be ready for the job market”. 

Plans to localise pathology specialisation at the University of Namibia (Unam) School of Medicine promise to stem the brain drain, retaining talent within the country. 

NIP’s success hinges on collaboration. 

Partnerships with entities like the Health Professions Council of Namibia ensure rigorous standards for lab professionals. 

Regional alliances enhance disease surveillance, crucial for combating cross-border health threats like Ebola or drug-resistant TB. 

Global networks, including participation in the World Health Organisation’s diagnostic initiatives, keep Namibia at the forefront of medical advancements. 

The institute’s outreach extends to policymakers and industry leaders. 

By convening stakeholders through platforms like the Centres of Excellence, NIP fosters dialogue that bridges gaps between research, policy and practice. 

This synergy is vital for addressing systemic challenges – from equipment shortages to outdated technology and scarce skills – issues that plagued NIP’s early days after taking over 23 dilapidated labs from the Health ministry in 2000. 

Imagine a Namibia where lab results take weeks, clinics lack basic diagnostic tools and hospitals overflow with misdiagnosed patients. 

Disease outbreaks would spiral unchecked, reversing decades of progress. 

The economic toll, skyrocketing hospitalisation costs, lost productivity and eroded investor confidence, would cripple development. 

The constitutional right to life (Article 8) would be rendered meaningless without timely, accurate diagnostics. 

Maternal mortality would rise, HIV resurgence would devastate communities, and Namibia’s hard-won reputation as a public health leader would crumble. 

The NIP is more than a network of laboratories. 

It is the heartbeat of a nation striving for health equity and prosperity. 

As Namibia marches toward Vision 2030 and the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, one truth remains undeniable.

 Without NIP, the nation’s health ambitions would be a diagnosis without a cure.

* Niita Evaristus is the chief strategy and business development officer at NIP.