The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is committed to improving the quality of healthcare services across Namibia. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Namibia, and other stakeholders, MoHSS has rolled out the National Primary Health Care Quality Standards. The quality standards aim to improve the quality of healthcare services at the PHC level by ensuring patient safety, providing client-centered care, strengthening health management systems and promoting health equity. This initiative seeks to improve overall health outcomes and ensure all citizens have access to high-quality primary healthcare services.

From March 12-15, 2024, a four-day workshop was attended by 64 healthcare workers (HCWs) from nine prioritized primary healthcare (PHC) facilities. Participants included PHC facility heads, registered nurses, medical officers, PHC supervisors, district quality managers, CDC field officers, and representatives from various MoHSS directorates and partner organizations such as WHO, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), CDC Namibia and ITECH Namibia.

The training aimed to capacitate healthcare providers in implementing the PHC Quality Standards, as well as orientating them on the Service Elements (SEs), performance indicators, standards layout and assessment methodologies. The training employed diverse facilitation methods including PowerPoint presentations, open discussions, group work, and daily feedback sessions.  Additionally, the workshop disseminated baseline results from hospitals currently implementing the hospital quality standards and facilitated the development of work plans for PHC facilities.

Healthcare facilities developed their work plans outlining activities, feedback sessions, and approaches to baseline assessments. These plans were shared in a plenary session, providing a template for others to follow. Furthermore, Facility Baseline Assessments were scheduled for April to June 2024, with completed assessment tools to be submitted by 10 June 2024 and provide feedback on the assessment findings to healthcare facility management and staff were planned for June to July 2024. Additionally, a Quality Management Training has been scheduled for August to September 2024, to capacitate the health workers on addressing the gaps identified in the assessment.

The PHC Quality Standards training was a significant step in improving healthcare quality in Namibia. By adhering to the facility workplans that were developed work plans during the training and following the outlined next steps, MoHSS aims to sustain and enhance healthcare quality across the nation. The successful implementation of these quality standards will ensure that Namibian healthcare facilities provide safe, effective, and patient-centered care, setting a benchmark for healthcare excellence in the regions. 

The training was made possible with technical support by WHO in partnership with the Government of Japan.