Also known as: CMS
Central Medical Stores — government pharmaceutical distribution center handling medicine and clinical supply distribution nationwide, recently struggling with stock shortages and corruption allegations.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Central Medical Stores experienced alleged manipulation of stock records and medicine diversion
“Reports that the Ministry of Health and Social Services has uncovered suspected fraud within Namibia's pharmaceutical supply chain – including alleged manipulation of stock records and diversion of medicines at the Central Medical Stores – should concern every Namibian.”
Health Sector Corruption: Namibia Must Act Before Shortages Become the NormNew Era
Central Medical Stores may be implicated in fraudulent activities including stock manipulation and theft
“The ministry last week informed the public that certain staff members, particularly at the Central Medical Stores, may be complicit in fraudulent activities.”
Healthrot flagged in supply chainThe Namibian
Central Medical Stores is linked to supply constraints for anaesthetic agents affecting Rundu Intermediate Hospital
“A leaked internal letter dated 14 April shows that the hospital has run out of anaesthetic agents needed for general anaesthesia, with the shortage also linked to supply constraints at Central Medical Stores.”
Rundu joins Onandjokwe in surgery haltThe Namibian
Central Medical Stores had material stolen from it that the government was buying
“The Public Procurement Review Panel issued the slap on the wrist after investigations established without a doubt that the government was buying its own material stolen from the Central Medical Stores.”
Medicine Theft Only the Tip of the IcebergThe United States is phasing out direct financial support for Namibia's HIV response, shifting to technical cooperation after 2027, while the government already funds 100% of antiretroviral medicines. Health experts warn that sustaining gains will require more than ARV availability, as US assistance has also covered testing, counselling, and community programmes.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The United States is phasing out direct financial support for Namibia's HIV response, shifting to technical cooperation after 2027, while the government already funds 100% of antiretroviral medicines. Health experts warn that sustaining gains will require more than ARV availability, as US assistance has also covered testing, counselling, and community programmes.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A seven-day Namibia-Germany Enterprise and Supplier Development Mission connected 16 Namibian businesses, TVET institutions, and industry bodies with more than 50 German companies and organisations, resulting in one memorandum of understanding being finalised and four additional programmes under consideration across renewable energy, technical training, and industrial skills.
14 August 2026 · Informanté →
The government clinic at Aus in the ||Kharas region lacks diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma medications in stock and has no dedicated ambulance for emergency patients. A resident reports having to forgo medication due to cost when prescriptions cannot be filled at the clinic pharmacy.
12 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's health ministry has distributed 58 pharmaceutical and clinical supply items across the country in its sixth public update, comprising 46 medicine line items and 12 clinical supply items delivered between 16 and 31 July. The distribution is part of an emergency procurement programme to address immediate medicine shortages while securing bulk orders for long-term stock stability.
5 August 2026 · New Era →
SADC governments spend billions on medicines and supplies, yet hospitals and clinics face shortages of essential drugs. A regional pooled procurement system, approved in 2017, would allow member states to combine purchasing power and negotiate better prices, but implementation remains slow nearly a decade later.
23 July 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services says a critical shortage of medicines at Rundu State Hospital and clinics is not isolated but a countrywide issue, with patients leaving without medications and those with chronic conditions at particular risk. The ministry says it is addressing the shortage and has committed to providing monthly updates on pharmaceutical stock levels at government Central Medical Stores.
21 July 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has received and distributed 33 categories of critically needed medicines and clinical supplies between 18 June and 1 July 2026, part of efforts to address medicine shortages and stabilize the national pharmaceutical supply chain. The deliveries include cancer medicines such as Cyclophosphamide, Cytarabine, and Thioguanine, alongside antibiotics.
6 July 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services' procurement committee has blocked senior officials' proposal to bypass public tender procedures for a N$1-billion medicine purchase, citing concerns that emergency procurement could be abused. The tender was meant to address medicine shortages at public hospitals and clinics.
28 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has cleared Fabupharm Pty Ltd's paracetamol syrup for use after independent laboratory tests confirmed it met safety and quality standards. The clearance was issued in May following the product's recall last year, which came after routine inspection shortcomings were identified.
24 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has confirmed that Fabu-Paracetamol meets required safety and quality standards following independent laboratory testing of samples from health facilities. The tests found all batches complied with quality specifications, contained correct active pharmaceutical ingredient levels, and contained no toxic contaminants such as diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol.
24 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has ordered the Namibia Central Intelligence Service to conduct background checks on about 360 health ministry officials, mostly from the pharmaceutical services directorate at the Central Medical Stores, following allegations of fraud and corruption involving government employees and tenderpreneurs rigging medical tenders and manipulating orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has cancelled pharmaceutical and clinical product orders worth N$44.8 million extended to 12 companies after suppliers failed to deliver medicines to the Central Medical Stores, including treatments for mental illness, cancer, and chronic conditions.
15 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Anti-Corruption Commission has issued a formal summons to a member of the ministry of health and social services' Bid Evaluation Committee to appear for questioning over allegations of procurement manipulation, supply chain fraud, and theft of pharmaceutical medicines from state warehouses. The official is to appear before an ACC investigator on 18 August 2026.
9 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has removed Fransina Nambahu as registrar of medicines at the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council and appointed Frieda Shiweda to the position effective 1 June 2026. Sources told the Windhoek Observer that Nambahu was removed after refusing to approve substandard medicines, contradicting the ministry's stated reason of structural review.
1 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah visited FabuPharm, Namibia's only fully-fledged pharmaceutical manufacturing company, in Otjiwarongo, citing medicine shortages in public hospitals as a priority concern. FabuPharm produces over 150 medicines and healthcare products locally and supplies some directly to government hospitals through the Central Medical Stores.
21 May 2026 · New Era →
Medical specialists at public hospitals dispute health minister Esperance Luvindao's assertion that pharmaceutical stock levels have improved to 60%, saying critical shortages of essential medications continue to affect patient care across departments.
20 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has intensified efforts to stabilise Namibia's pharmaceutical supply chain, with essential medicines and clinical supplies delivered to the Central Medical Stores over the past two weeks. The country's pharmaceutical stock service level currently stands at about 60%, below the targeted minimum of 80%, though urgent procurement interventions are showing progress.
19 May 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Health reports that several essential pharmaceutical products are in short supply or out of stock at health facilities. The Central Medical Stores received pharmaceutical and clinical supplies between 27 April and 15 May 2026, including stocks of seizure control medication, blood glucose test strips, and blood pressure management drugs, intended to address urgent needs and stabilise inventory levels.
18 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services reports national pharmaceutical stock levels at 60%, below the 80% target, with several essential medicines understocked or out of stock across public healthcare facilities. The ministry will now issue monthly reports on pharmaceutical and clinical product deliveries to improve transparency and stabilise supply levels.
18 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Asoli Progressive Party has criticized President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for what it describes as insufficient response to ongoing medicine shortages in public hospitals, with the party's president Josef Kauandenge saying the government has not acted with enough urgency. Public concern has grown in recent weeks after patients were referred to private pharmacies due to stock-outs, though the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced it will now provide monthly updates on pharmaceutical supplies, with current stock levels at about 60% of required quantities.
18 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Sara Katiti's Afripharm Investments is seeking to stop government contract negotiations on a N$1.3 billion tender for mental health, cancer, and chronic-disease medicines to state hospitals, arguing the tender expired in March 2025. The procurement has been mired in court disputes since April 2023, including a challenge over a N$1.3 billion award to a company owned by a five-year-old child.
17 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has uncovered suspected fraud within Namibia's pharmaceutical supply chain, including alleged manipulation of stock records and diversion of medicines at the Central Medical Stores, contributing to shortages of critical medicines and suspension of elective surgeries at some hospitals. The editorial argues that while the ministry's investigation and reassignment of implicated staff are necessary first steps, thorough investigation, accountability and structural reform are essential to address systemic weaknesses and restore public confidence.
26 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Anti-corruption Commission is investigating multiple cases of theft and fraud within the Ministry of Health and Social Services, which also launched its own internal investigation after discovering alleged stock manipulation and diversion of pharmaceutical supplies within the Central Medical Stores. The ministry has reassigned implicated staff members pending investigation outcomes.
21 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian health ministry has launched an investigation into alleged fraud and theft within its pharmaceutical supply chain, including stock data manipulation and diversion of medicines. Executive director Penda Ithindi said implicated Central Medical Stores staff have been reassigned pending investigation, with criminal proceedings possible if guilt is established.
20 April 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched an investigation into suspected fraudulent activities within the pharmaceutical supply chain, allegedly involving ministry staff at the Central Medical Stores who may have manipulated stock data, stolen supplies, and created artificial shortages. The implicated staff have been reassigned pending investigation, and the ministry says those found guilty will face disciplinary and criminal proceedings.
17 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Rundu Intermediate Hospital has halted elective surgeries due to shortages of critical anaesthetic agents needed for general anaesthesia, linked to supply constraints at Central Medical Stores. This follows a similar suspension at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital, with both hospitals prioritizing emergency cases using remaining anaesthetic stock.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital has suspended all elective surgical procedures after running out of critical anaesthetic agents required for general anaesthesia, with similar supply constraints affecting the Central Medical Stores. The suspension is intended to prioritize limited supplies for emergency cases, and has raised parliamentary concerns about patient safety and operational stability at public health facilities.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →