Namibia has launched its first government-owned air ambulance after converting a Bombardier Learjet 31A, previously used to transport senior government officials, into a medical evacuation aircraft.
The aircraft, registration V5-NAG, was transferred from the Ministry of Works and Transport to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, paving the way for minor upgrades and the establishment of a steering committee to oversee the air ambulance service.
The development is expected to strengthen the country’s emergency medical referral system by enabling critically ill and emergency patients to reach specialist healthcare services faster.
Namibia already has air ambulance services operated by private companies. However, reliance on private operators presents affordability and geographical access challenges, particularly for patients who cannot afford the services in a country with vast distances between communities and healthcare facilities.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services said the aircraft would provide the public health system with an additional means of transporting patients requiring urgent medical attention.
For healthcare teams in the regions, the aircraft is expected to strengthen referral pathways when patients require treatment beyond the capabilities of their local facilities.
The ministry acknowledged that although government has plans to construct intermediate and referral hospitals in the regions, patients require medical services immediately, making emergency transport an important part of healthcare delivery.
Toska Sem, executive director of the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said aviation played a role beyond transportation, contributing directly to saving lives and improving access to healthcare.
The NCAA adopted a five-phase approach before certifying the aircraft as an air ambulance on 3 October.
Sem said Namibia should also consider the future role of aviation in public service delivery, particularly as technological developments create opportunities to extend healthcare services to remote communities.
She pointed to the use of drones for delivering medical supplies to hard-to-reach areas, saying experiences elsewhere in Africa had demonstrated that medical deliveries could be conducted through different methods, including drones and zipline systems.
Sem said the NCAA was reviewing its drone regulatory framework, building institutional capacity and planning to issue technical guidance material to the aviation industry on the oversight of drone operations.
The developments are expected to broaden the role of aviation in healthcare delivery beyond the transportation of patients to include the movement of essential medical supplies to communities with limited access to healthcare services.
Editor’s note: The NCAA formally handed the Air Ambulance Certificate to Government Air Transport Services at Eros Airport, Windhoek, on 4 November 2026, during the inauguration of the state-owned Air Ambulance Service.
