Namibia’s public spending on health was three per cent of GDP in 2011, equivalent to US$283 per capita. In the most recent survey, conducted between 1997 and 2010, there were 37 medical doctors, and 278 nurses and midwives per 100,000 people.
Additionally, in the period 2007-12, 81 per cent of births were attended by qualified health staff and in 2012, 76 per cent of oneyear olds were immunised with one dose of measles. In 2011, 93 per cent of the Namibian population had access to improved water sources and 32 per cent had access to adequate sanitation facilities.
In the most recent survey, conducted in the period 2000-11, Namibia had 18 pharmaceutical personnel per 100,000 people.
The country has around 50 public and private hospitals, the majority of which are found in the north of the country and in the larger towns where most people live (2009). Windhoek Central Hospital is Namibia’s largest referral hospital. While there is some local pharmaceutical manufacturing, this is largely small scale and the majority of the country’s pharmaceutical requirements are imported.
The most recent act relating to mental health in Namibia is the Mental Health Act (1973). There are 0.1 mental health outpatient facilities and 8.3 psychiatric beds in general hospitals per 100,000 people (2011).
