Also known as: HPCNA · Health Professions Councils of Namibia · HPCN
Health Professions Council of Namibia — regulatory body overseeing healthcare professional licensing, conduct investigations, and accreditation, managing national nursing assessments and practitioner registration.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
Windhoek Observer
HPCNA required HPCNA curriculum approval for programmes at institutions abroad
“The letter highlights that many students were admitted to institutions in Zambia, India, and South Africa, only to later be informed that their programmes required HPCNA curriculum approval.”
Youth activist calls out medical study barriersInformanté
Health Professions Council of Namibia is an independent statutory body that investigates professional conduct and protects the public
“The Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA) is an independent statutory body that investigates professional conduct, protects the public, and makes recommendations; we routinely request and accept their independent findings and implement corrective action where required," Luvindao said.”
Health Ministry spends N$1.2 million on medical negligence payouts during 2024/25 financial yearThe Namibian
Health Professions Councils of Namibia (HPCNA) recently presented parliament's standing committee on education figures on exam results since January 2025
“The figures, which the Health Professions Councils of Namibia (HPCNA) recently presented the parliament's standing committee on education, cover evaluation sessions held since the exam became compulsory for locally trained nurses and midwives in January 2025.”
2 600 nursing graduates fail national HPCNA assessmentThe Namibian
Health Professions Council of Namibia is investigating reports at Mariental and Oshakati hospitals
“While the Ministry of Health and Social Services, alongside the Health Professions Council of Namibia, investigates reports at places like the Mariental and Oshakati hospitals, the medical fraternity must confront a sobering reality.”
When Interns Run HospitalsWindhoek Observer
Health Professions Council of Namibia may issue notices, subpoenas, and other official documents to registered practitioners
“The first regulation outlines how notices, subpoenas, and other official documents issued by the Health Professions Council of Namibia or its registrar must be served on registered practitioners.”
Health Council gets clearer path to serve notices on practitionersThe Namibian
Health Professions Council of Namibia is working with the ministry to investigate allegations of professional misconduct
“The minister said the investigation includes reviewing licensing and accreditation records, carrying out surprise inspections at private health facilities and working with the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA) to investigate allegations of professional misconduct.”
Health ministry investigates interns running hospitalsInformanté
Health Professions Council of Namibia recognises importance of clear, fair, and effective complaints management systems
“Weyulu added that the Health Professions Council of Namibia recognises the importance of clear, fair, and effective complaints management systems.”
New health complaints procedure aims to boost trust, not punish staff, says Dr WeyuluWindhoek Observer
Health Professions Council of Namibia through its Registrar and Chief Executive Officer welcomed the complaints management initiative
“Health Professions Council of Namibia Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Cornelius Weyulu welcomed the initiative, saying effective complaints management is critical to strengthening public confidence in healthcare institutions.”
Health ministry rolls out new complaints systemThe Namibian
Health Professions Council of Namibia issued a circular urging practitioners to obtain licences before 20 March deadline
“The HPCNA on 26 February issued a circular urging practitioners to obtain licences before the 20 March deadline, creating pressure for healthcare workers.”
Health minister extends medical licensing deadline to 2027 to ease pressure on Namibian doctorsThe Namibian
Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA) has extended the licensing deadline for healthcare practitioners to 31 March 2027
“The Namibia Medical Society (NMS) has announced that the Health Professions Councils of Namibia (HPCNA) has extended the licensing deadline for healthcare practitioners to 31 March 2027.”
HPCNA extends licensing deadline to 2027Monika Pendukeni introduced Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Susan Ndjaleka as the keynote speaker at Welwitchia University's 9th Official Graduation Ceremony, held on 16–17 July 2026 at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Monika Pendukeni introduced Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Susan Ndjaleka as the keynote speaker at Welwitchia University's 9th Official Graduation Ceremony, held on 16–17 July 2026 at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Monika Pendukeni introduced Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Susan Ndjaleka as the keynote speaker at Welwitchia University's 9th Official Graduation Ceremony held at Mercure Hotel, Windhoek on 16–17 July 2026.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Welwitschia University Chancellor Scholastika Iipinge has called on NSFAF to fully cover tuition fees for students at private higher education institutions, stating that partial funding continues to leave families carrying a financial burden despite government promises of equal treatment.
17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Chancellor of Welwitschia University has called on NSFAF to fully cover tuition fees for students at private higher education institutions, noting that partial sponsorships continue to leave families bearing financial burdens despite government promises of equal treatment.
17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Young Namibians aspiring to study medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry have raised concerns over unclear and unfair policies by NSFAF and HPCNA, arguing that students admitted to universities abroad were later informed their programmes required curriculum approval, and that NSFAF's removal of medical programmes from its priority list has left them stranded.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services spent N$1,286,051.90 on compensatory payouts related to six settlements during the 2024/25 financial year, according to Health Minister Esperance Luvindao. This follows reports that the ministry spent nearly N$14.7 million on compensation claims between 2019 and 2024.
15 July 2026 · Informanté →
More than 2 600 nursing and midwifery graduates have failed the national exam required to practise in Namibia since the test became compulsory in January 2025, raising concerns about the quality of nursing training. The Health Professions Councils of Namibia reported that 2 743 of 5 427 graduates evaluated passed, while 2 683 failed, including those who did not sit for the exam.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Health training institutions have called for a streamlined, harmonised accreditation system to reduce duplicate inspections and regulatory overlap. They cite long approval processes and a shortage of clinical training sites as obstacles to training health professionals.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Parliament's Standing Committee on Education has launched an inquiry into Namibia's health training sector over concerns about graduate unemployment, accreditation delays, and training quality as the number of health training institutions has grown. The committee convened a two-day consultation with institutions, regulators, and students, with representatives from 12 health training institutions citing prolonged accreditation processes and overlapping regulatory requirements as obstacles.
6 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Parliament has received allegations that medical doctors are leaving interns to run health facilities, including at Mariental and Oshakati hospitals. The Ministry of Health and Social Services is investigating the claims, which raise concerns about intern supervision, patient safety, and the quality of medical training.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Nursing students at the University of Namibia are being turned away from some clinics because student numbers are growing faster than the capacity of health facilities to supervise clinical placements. Unam's executive dean told Parliament that overcrowding has become one of the university's biggest challenges.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The ministry of health and social services has gazetted two new sets of regulations under the Health Professions Act of 2024, establishing procedures for serving official documents on registered health professionals and setting out requirements for authorising health practitioners in government employment.
2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services is investigating allegations that doctors are leaving interns in charge of health facilities, with preliminary investigations underway in at least two cases. Health minister Esperance Luvindao told parliament the ministry has received reports suggesting the cases are not isolated and is working to increase health facility inspections, including surprise visits.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched a Standard Operating Procedure for managing complaints, with the Registrar of the Health Professions Council stating that complaints should be used to identify systemic issues and improve patient care rather than to punish staff.
14 June 2026 · Informanté →
Health Minister Esperance Luvindao acknowledged public frustration over conditions in Namibia's public health system, citing reports of resource shortages, poor communication, discrimination, and unauthorized sharing of patient information. The ministry launched a new Standard Operating Procedure for the Management of Complaints aimed at improving accountability and addressing concerns.
11 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Maata Valombola, shot in the abdomen in 2007, claims a doctor at Katutura Intermediate Hospital operated on him while intoxicated, leaving a permanent open wound that has severely affected his mobility and quality of life. The Ministry of Health and Social Services rejected claims of medical negligence after an investigation by the Health Professions Council of Namibia found no evidence of unprofessional conduct.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A UDF parliamentarian has called for decentralised nursing registration at the regional level to ease the burden on nurses who must travel long distances to Khomas Region. The Health Ministry has extended the registration deadline to 31 March 2026 and is engaging with the Health Professions Council to find sustainable long-term solutions.
26 March 2026 · New Era →
The Health Minister has granted Namibian health professionals a temporary extension under the Health Professions Act, allowing registered practitioners to continue practising without a new licence until 31 March 2027 on a "deemed licensed" basis, provided they apply for the required licence before that date. The extension follows concerns raised by the Namibia Medical Society that the operational framework for the licensing system was not finalised in time for the original 20 March 2024 deadline.
24 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Health Professions Councils of Namibia has extended the licensing deadline for healthcare practitioners to 31 March 2027, following a proposal by the Namibia Medical Society and consultation with more than 450 healthcare workers. All practitioners will be deemed licensed during this period, giving them more time to comply with requirements.
21 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Prime Minister Dr Elijah Ngurare has inaugurated a new governance committee for the Public Service Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) to oversee implementation of reforms, including mandatory use of public hospitals by civil servants and alignment with the government's Universal Health Coverage objectives. The committee, drawn from government agencies, trade unions, and regulators, replaces the previous model to improve oversight, accountability, and healthcare sustainability.
10 March 2026 · Informanté →
Dr Alfons Amoomo has been appointed Deputy Executive Director in the Department of Health and Social Welfare Policy at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, effective 7 January 2026. He brings experience in health systems, policy development and public sector leadership, having previously served as Regional Director for Omusati Region since 2017.
11 January 2026 · Informanté →