Also known as: Executive director of health and social services Penda Ithindi · Mr Penda Ithindi
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Penda Ithindi
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Windhoek Observer
Penda Ithindi asks the court to condone late filing and allow government to defend the matter
“In a founding affidavit, Penda Ithindi, acting on behalf of the government, asks the court to condone the late filing of the government's plea and allow it to defend the matter despite missing the prescribed deadline.”
Govt seeks late plea in corpse mishandling lawsuitThe Namibian
Penda Ithindi says the ministry views the allegations seriously
“He says the ministry views the allegations seriously.”
Bail hearing set for rape accused doctor Dennis NoaWindhoek Observer
Penda Ithindi said the Ministry treats these allegations with the utmost seriousness
“"The Ministry treats these allegations with the utmost seriousness. Such allegations are deeply concerning and are fundamentally inconsistent with the ethical standards, professional conduct and values expected from all health professionals serving under the Ministry," executive director Penda Ithindi said.”
Health ministry probes Noa’s fresh rape chargeInformanté
Penda Ithindi said the ministry treats these allegations with utmost seriousness
“Penda Ithindi, the executive director within the Ministry of Health and Social Services, said the ministry treats these allegations with the utmost seriousness.”
Health ministry says it has initiated administrative investigations into alleged Onandjokwe rape caseThe Namibian
Health executive director Penda Ithindi said the ministry views the allegations with utmost seriousness
“Health executive director Penda Ithindi on Monday said the ministry views the allegations with the utmost seriousness.”
Ministry launches probe into rape accused doctor NoaInformanté
Executive Director Penda Ithindi highlighted the value of China's support in advancing Namibia's healthcare capabilities through modern medical technology
“Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services Penda Ithindi also highlighted the value of China's support in advancing Namibia's healthcare capabilities, particularly through modern medical technology.”
Namibia-China friendship reaches 35 years with focus on healthcare cooperationThe Namibian
Executive director Penda Ithindi received instructions to submit medico-legal training information by close of business
“In an email to executive director of health and social services Penda Ithindi on 3 June Luvindao said she had asked for chief medical officer of legal support services Dr Ife Ofunne to coordinate the programme.”
State lawyers losing millions in medical casesThe Namibian
Board of trustees chairperson Penda Ithindi said the new strategy is structured around key pillars aimed at strengthening the fund's operations
“During the launch of its Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2029, board of trustees chairperson Penda Ithindi said the new strategy is structured around key pillars aimed at strengthening the fund's operations.”
GIPF pumps N$800m into Oryx PropertyInformanté
Penda Ithindi released a table of essential medicines received from 4 to 17 June
“The Ministry's Executive Director, Penda Ithindi, who released a table of essential medicines received from 4 to 17 June (see images), said urgent procurement is underway to meet immediate needs for critical medicines, while bulk orders are being placed to stabilise long-term stock levels.”
Health Ministry receives 47 critical medicine lines, more cancer drugs en routeThe Namibian
Penda Ithindi communicated same message to Namibia Central Intelligence Service
“The same message was later communicated to the Namibia Central Intelligence Service (NCIS) by executive director of health and social services Penda Ithindi.”
President orders NCIS to screen 360 health officialsThe Ministry of Health and Social Services has called for responsible prescribing and monitoring of weight-loss and metabolic treatments such as Ozempic and Mounjaro amid growing public demand. The ministry warned against counterfeit and substandard products, and raised concerns about health misinformation on social media and unregulated self-medication.
9 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has called for responsible prescribing and monitoring of weight-loss and metabolic treatments such as Ozempic and Mounjaro amid growing public demand. The ministry warned against counterfeit and substandard products, and raised concerns about health misinformation on social media and unregulated self-medication.
9 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health has clarified that the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) is administered by the Ministry of Finance, not the Health Ministry, and has urged the public to direct all enquiries about the scheme's benefits and administration to Finance rather than Health.
7 October 2026 · Informanté →
The Government Institutions Pension Fund has invested more than N$466 million in Oshana region, supporting housing, education, energy and procurement financing. The Fund opened a new regional office in Ondangwa on Friday, part of efforts to decentralise services and reduce costs for members and pensioners.
30 September 2026 · New Era →
The Government Institutions Pension Fund reported total assets of about N$223 billion, with investments supporting housing, energy, agriculture and other projects nationwide. The Fund serves about 115,000 active members and provides income security to approximately 58,400 pensioners and annuitants, and has invested more than N$466 million in the Oshana region alone.
29 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah inaugurated Namibia's first state-owned Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at Windhoek Central Hospital, hailing it as a milestone toward equitable healthcare access regardless of socio-economic background.
11 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and the US are negotiating new health sector funding to determine the future of HIV financing in the country, with negotiations intensifying since US President Donald Trump's return to power and the dismantling of USAID. The talks are contentious over data-sharing provisions, with recipient countries concerned that deals tie health aid to data access and critical minerals, though a US government source claims negotiations do not include sharing of personally identifiable data.
30 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council quarantined two batches of Azithromycin Oral Suspension after complaints it failed to dissolve properly and contained lumps, while Cospharm Investments issued a voluntary recall of VCS Flumed Syrup after crystals were found in units.
14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has received and distributed 58 critically needed medical products since 16 July, comprising 46 medicine line items and 12 clinical supply items. The deliveries include cancer medicines, antihypertensive medication, skin treatments, eye drops, and colostomy supplies to support healthcare services across public health facilities.
5 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services says it has received and distributed 58 critically needed pharmaceutical and clinical supply items since July, comprising 46 medicine line items and 12 clinical supply items. The deliveries include cancer medicines, blood pressure and diabetes medications, tuberculosis and malaria treatments, mental health medicines, and clinical supplies such as colostomy items.
5 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian government has asked the High Court to condone its late filing of a plea in a lawsuit brought by Swakopmund resident Joel Tjombe over the alleged mishandling and decomposition of his mother's body at Okahandja State Hospital. The government attributes the delay to administrative issues involving conflict of interest between two ministries cited as defendants.
23 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Medical doctor Dennis Noa, arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a 26-year-old man at a public hospital premises, asked the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court to grant him bail so he can return to his duties. The state opposed bail, citing rape as a serious offence and arguing that release could risk witness interference, further offences, or absconding.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
An intern doctor at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital has been remanded in custody on a rape charge after appearing in Ondangwa Magistrate's Court. The alleged incident occurred when the doctor invited a 26-year-old man to celebrate his new job, and the complainant alleges he was sexually assaulted after consuming a drink that appeared to contain a dissolved pill.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An intern doctor at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital has been remanded in custody on a rape charge after appearing in Ondangwa Magistrate's Court; the ministry of health and social services has launched an internal administrative investigation. The alleged incident occurred when the doctor invited a 26-year-old to the hospital, where the complainant alleges he was drugged and sexually assaulted.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has initiated administrative investigations into an alleged rape incident on 19 July 2026 at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital, following the arrest of medical intern Dennis Noa (31), who was denied bail in Ondangwa Magistrate's Court. Noa was previously acquitted of a similar rape charge at Katutura Intermediate Hospital in 2021.
20 July 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched an administrative investigation into medical intern Dennis Noa, who was arrested in connection with an alleged rape at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital. The ministry said it has activated internal disciplinary processes alongside police investigation and condemned sexual violence.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Chinese Embassy says healthcare is a major pillar of Namibia-China cooperation, with Chinese medical teams providing free traditional Chinese medicine services at Katutura State Hospital since 1996; the 15th team treated more than 19,000 patients over 18 months, and the 16th team arrived in 2024 to continue the programme.
10 July 2026 · Informanté →
Government lawyers are accused of mishandling health-related legal cases and potentially sharing settlement payouts with senior ministry officials and claimants' lawyers. Between 2019 and 2024, the health ministry spent N$14.7m on medical claims, with about N$5.5m spent over the past year, amid delays in a nationwide medico-legal training programme.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
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 Government Institutions Pension Fund has committed N$800 million towards a new unlisted commercial property investment vehicle managed by Oryx Property Limited to finance retail and mall-type properties across Namibia. The investment follows Oryx Property's development of Goreangab Mall in Windhoek, and GIPF holds a 29.46% shareholding in Oryx Properties.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services received 47 major line items of critically needed products between 4 and 17 June, comprising 27 medicine line items and 20 clinical supply items. The deliveries included anti-cancer medicines, with additional essential medicine deliveries expected in the coming weeks.
20 June 2026 · Informanté →
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 →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has called on the Government Institutions Pension Fund to invest more of its funds in Namibia to protect its reputation, citing past investment losses outside the country that have damaged public confidence. The GIPF reported an impairment loss of N$815 million from a South African investment in November and faced earlier concerns about untraceable losses exceeding N$600 million.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Cabinet has endorsed an agreement between Namibia and Egypt on pharmaceutical products and medical devices, and approved another agreement with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention for procurement services. The approvals come as the country faces shortages of essential medicines in public health facilities.
12 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has denied claims that it increased public healthcare tariffs to match those of the Namibia Association of Medical Aid Funds, clarifying that the Ministry of Finance—not the health ministry—has authority over Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme tariff changes. The ministry noted that tariff structures have not been comprehensively reviewed in 11 years despite significant changes in healthcare costs.
5 June 2026 · Informanté →
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 →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services is considering a proposal to refer state cancer patients from the northern regions to the Namibian Oncology Centre for chemotherapy and radiation treatment at state cost, under a proposed contractual agreement. The proposal aims to ease pressure on patients who currently travel long distances to Windhoek, though it has sparked internal debate about outsourcing care while government facilities face funding shortages.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's health ministry confirmed there are no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases in the country, despite an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain spreading to major urban centres in the DRC and Uganda. The ministry has implemented heightened surveillance at all points of entry and is providing refresher training to frontline health workers.
23 May 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says reports of medicine shortages at public hospitals are giving her "sleepless nights," speaking during a tour of pharmaceutical manufacturer Fabupharm. Medical doctors say shortages of essential medicine persist despite government reports showing national stock levels at about 60%, with patients being turned away at several hospitals.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said medicine shortages in public hospitals are a major burden on her administration, after the Ministry of Health and Social Services revealed national pharmaceutical stock levels are at 60%, below the government's 80% minimum target.
21 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →