The Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia Convenes Key Stakeholders to Validate Essential Health Services Package

Dr. Naemi Shoopala, Acting Director of Special Programs at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, delivering remarks during the validation of the costing of the essential health services package.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) in Namibia gathered key stakeholders in Windhoek from April 24-25, 2024, to validate the costing of the Essential Health Services Package (EHSP). The focus was on assessing the cost implications of various implementation scenarios for the revised EHSP. Objectives included validating inputs such as costing data, utilization data, and projections of population health needs, with the overarching goal to reach consensus on the most feasible scenarios and combinations of prioritized services for inclusion in the revised EHSP.

Supported by the USAID-funded LHSS Project, MoHSS is committed to revising the EHSP to ensure universal access to essential health services, address inequalities, and allocate resources according to health priorities. Through this validation workshop, LHSS Namibia is in the final stages of refining the EHSP's costing, which involves developing scenarios based on current costs and estimated healthcare needs to project the EHSP's budgetary impact, financing requirements, and overall affordability. This will facilitate and inform the final EHSP development.