Government intends to establish public sector dialysis units at the Windhoek Central and Oshakati Intermediate hospitals as well as at the Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund, Rundu and Katima Mulilo State hospitals.

This was revealed by Health and Social Services Minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula in Parliament recently while responding to questions asked by Popular Democratic Movement member of parliament Reggie Diergaardt.

Diergaardt wanted to know the eligibility of patients receiving dialysis services according to their age.

To this Shangula said the ministry provides specialised services through its referral hospitals, and where it has limited capacity, it contracts out services to the private sector – such specialised services include the provision of dialysis.

He explained that the private providers for dialysis are mainly in urban centres such as Windhoek, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop and Ongwediva.

Shangula said Government currently provides for limited dialysis at the Windhoek Central Hospital and the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, noting that the ministry is implementing a nationwide dialysis programme, while steps have been taken to create dialysis capacity.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency