Namibia's National Assembly approves new mental health amendment bill
via The Namibian1 min read
Namibia's National Assembly has adopted the mental health amendment bill of 2025, which now moves to the National Council for consideration. This legislation aims to modernize mental healthcare services, protect patients, and address the country's mental health challenges. Key provisions include criminalizing patient abuse, expanding community-based care, regulating patient restraint and seclusion, and emphasizing suicide prevention. The bill, tabled by minister of health and social services Esperance Luvindao, will replace the Mental Health Act of 1973. Luvindao stated that the new law provides a foundation for her ministry to accelerate implementation, including building facilities and managing mental health at the primary healthcare level. The legislation also allows the Ministry of Health and Social Services to designate private institutions as mental health facilities, broadens service delivery options, and introduces stricter penalties for healthcare workers found guilty of abuse or neglect, with fines up to N$100,000, imprisonment up to two years, or both. Additionally, it mandates medical aid schemes to offer broader coverage for mental health conditions and includes special provisions for offenders and inmates with mental health conditions, prioritizing their treatment and rehabilitation.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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