Windhoek:The Ministry of Health and Social Services has suspended the hiring of new staff due to financial constraints faced by the government, with plans to resume recruitment in April 2027.

According to NAMPA, the ministry's Executive Director, Penda Ithindi, stated that approximately 1,770 health personnel, including around 1,320 nurses, were recruited by the end of September 2026. The halt in recruitment follows guidance from the Ministry of Finance, indicating that further hiring will be postponed until the next financial year.

The recruitment efforts were supported by the ministry's 2026/27 financial allocation of N$259 million, with N$241 million spent by the end of September. This funding covered the costs of positions that became vacant during the year. Between December 2025 and March 2026, the ministry recruited 814 additional staff, including 449 nurses, 134 medical officers and dentists, 103 allied health professionals, and 107 administrative support staff.

Ithindi assured that recruitment for vacancies caused by retirements and natural attrition will continue, even as new staff recruitment is paused. His statement came in response to a petition from unemployed graduate nurses who expressed concerns about the recruitment process and called for improvements in rural health facility working conditions.

In August, 1,350 unemployed nurses urged the ministry to review recruitment practices, highlighting the disparity between the number of advertised positions and the number of qualified applicants, along with the financial burdens of professional registration fees and interview travel expenses. Concerns were also raised about the transparency and fairness of the recruitment process.

Ithindi emphasized that recruitment adheres to public service staff rules and minimum requirements, and that the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA) conducts tests to ensure nurses are capable of providing safe services.