Mandatory identification tags for public health staff coming

In a move to revolutionise healthcare delivery, public hospital and clinic staff in Namibia will now be required to wear identification tags displaying their names and titles. This was announced by health minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, during the launch of the Ministry’s customer service charter on Monday.Shangula emphasised that the customer service charter is more than just a document, describing it as a "collective commitment and undertaking to serve the Namibian people... to the best of our ability." He highlighted the importance of ensuring accountability and providing patients with a means to address any unsatisfactory experiences."It is for this reason that each staff member is obliged to wear an identification tag that displays his or her name and title," Shangula said. "An aggrieved member of the public has the right to report poor conduct of any staff member to the customer care office at the health facility or to the head or person-in-charge of a facility. In the same manner, we welcome feedback on the quality of our work from members of the public."The minister also announced that the ministry has started implementing health facilities quality standards to improve service quality. Initially introduced at six health facilities, this initiative has now been extended to ten facilities across different parts of the country.Shangula called on all health staff to embrace the principles outlined in the charter and urged patients to hold the ministry accountable. He appealed to the public for cooperation, emphasizing that health facilities should be places of healing, where mutual respect is upheld.He further highlighted the importance of treating every patient with respect, dignity, and quality care, in line with the charter’s vision of providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare. "For instance, when a patient walks through the door of any health facility, such patients must be treated and handled as an individual deserving of respect, dignity, and quality care, not a mere statistic," he said.The outgoing minister also stressed the need for effective communication and the provision of relevant health information to empower patients to make informed decisions about their treatment. He emphasized that patients should be well-informed about their health conditions to ensure their cooperation with proposed health interventions.The introduction of identification tags and the customer service charter is seen as a significant step forward in enhancing transparency, accountability, and the overall quality of healthcare services in Namibia.jemima@nmh-hub.com.na

Mandatory identification tags for public health staff coming

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-04

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Mandatory identification tags for public health staff coming

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-04

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