Medical interns in Namibia are facing uncertainty about their future employment in the public health system. The Ministry of Health and Social Services has a limited number of funded vacant posts, making it challenging for interns to secure jobs after completing their training. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao stated that the ministry's ability to absorb medical officers, dentists, and other health professionals depends on available financial resources and approved positions.
Luvindao was responding to questions raised by Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Lilani Brinkman in the National Assembly. Brinkman had asked about medical interns' overtime payments, their absorption into the public health system, and delayed scholarship payments. Luvindao acknowledged the challenge posed by the limited number of funded and approved vacant posts within the ministry's organisational establishment.
The ministry is not in a position to automatically absorb unemployed medical officers, dentists, or other professional cadres upon completion of their internship or contract periods. Instead, available funded vacancies will be publicly advertised, and qualified candidates will be required to apply and undergo a competitive selection process based on merit and the operational needs of the ministry.
Luvindao stated that the ministry remains committed to exploring long-term solutions, including engaging relevant stakeholders to advocate for increased funding to strengthen service delivery in critical health areas. The absorption of medical professionals is linked to the country's demand for health services, and the pace and absorption capacity of medical interns depend on the financial resources provided to the ministry.
The ministry is coordinating with institutions of learning to ensure that the intake of health-related programmes is aligned with demand for services, aiming to avoid market oversupply. This approach will help prevent a surplus of medical professionals in certain fields and ensure that the public health system can absorb them effectively.
Luvindao also addressed the issue of overtime payments for medical and dental interns, who have been rendering services beyond the normal 40-hour workweek stipulated under the Labour Act, 2007. The ministry is working with the Office of the Prime Minister's department of public service management and the Office of the Government Attorney to determine a fair and standardised remuneration framework for overtime.
The process of resolving the interns' remuneration and overtime concerns is at an advanced stage, following collaboration between the health ministry, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Finance, with guidance from the Office of the Government Attorney. Although Luvindao did not provide a specific date for when the affected interns would receive outstanding payments, she assured that the ministry is working to resolve the issue.
Key points
- The Ministry of Health and Social Services has limited funded posts, making it challenging for medical interns to secure jobs after completing their training.
- The ministry will publicly advertise available funded vacancies and require qualified candidates to apply and undergo a competitive selection process.
- The ministry is working to determine a fair and standardised remuneration framework for overtime payments to medical and dental interns.
