Namibia: Amid Growing Dissatisfaction With Government Efforts On Health, Namibians Want Universal Access to Care

What the report says

Afrobarometer’s latest Namibia survey, published by AllAfrica on 1 October 2026, suggests growing public frustration with access to health care and the government’s handling of basic health services. The report says health is now among the top issues Namibians want authorities to address, with concern about it rising since 2017.

The findings indicate widespread difficulty in getting care. A large majority of respondents said they or a family member had gone without needed medicine or treatment at least once in the previous year, and many people who used public clinics or hospitals reported long waits, medicine shortages, absent staff and poor facility conditions. The survey also found that some users said they had to offer a bribe, gift or favor to receive services.

The article says most Namibians lack medical-aid coverage, mainly because they cannot afford it, and that many worry about being unable to pay for care if they become ill. Public support for universal health coverage is strong, including support for a tax-financed system even if taxes rise. At the same time, more than half of respondents disapproved of the government’s performance on improving basic health services, although trust in the Ministry of Health and Social Services remained relatively high.

The report places these views in the context of Namibia’s heavily used public health system, budget increases for health, and ongoing pressure from staffing and infrastructure constraints. Together, the findings point to a gap between spending commitments and citizens’ day-to-day experience of care.