NABOLA warns that removing middlemen from medicine procurement could reduce tax contributions and employment

[PODCAST]

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has announced plans to bypass middlemen in the procurement of medicines, opting instead to buy directly from international manufacturers. Minister Esperance Luvindao says this move saves government more than N$221 million and ensures better value for money.

But not everyone is convinced. The Namibia Local Business Association, better known as Naloba, warns that removing middlemen from the supply chain leads to job losses, reduced tax contributions, and weaker opportunities for local businesses. Critics argue that while middlemen are often linked to inflated tenders and political connections, they are also employers who provide livelihoods for Namibians.

Naloba’s Kanu Amadhila spoke to Desert FM for more.