Namibia: Health Ministry Halts Recruitment of New Staff

What the report says

Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services has paused recruitment of new staff, according to a statement reported by The Namibian and distributed by AllAfrica. The decision affects job seekers, including qualified nurses, who had been expecting further hiring before the next financial year begins in April 2027.

The ministry said the halt follows the government’s constrained fiscal position and weaker domestic revenue linked to adverse external economic conditions. Executive director Penda Ithindi said the ministry had been advised through the Ministry of Finance that remaining recruitment would only resume in the next financial year. The announcement comes amid a petition from nurses about unemployment and the recruitment process.

The ministry said N$259 million had been allocated for health-worker recruitment in the 2026/27 financial year, and that N$241 million had already been used. By the end of September, about 1,770 health personnel had been hired, including roughly 1,320 nurses. It added that vacancies created by retirement or other natural attrition would still be advertised and filled.

The report also noted that earlier budget support in 2025/26 helped recruit 814 staff between December 2025 and March 2026. Those hires were deployed to facilities nationwide and, the ministry said, helped ease pressure on services and expand 24-hour care at some clinics in the Khomas region.