By Koviao Matuzee
The Pharmacy Students Society of Namibia (PSSN) has called for greater investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and young professionals, saying Namibia must move beyond importing medicines and give pharmacy students a meaningful role in shaping the country’s healthcare future.
The society believes developing local pharmaceutical industries, quality-control laboratories and eventually facilities for producing vaccines and sterile products could help address medicine shortages while creating opportunities for young pharmacists to contribute beyond dispensing medicines.
“Namibia has a lot of gaps and opportunities that we, as young pharmacists, can address. Learning from other African countries has given us hope that we can come up with homegrown solutions to better our country,” they said.
However, financial constraints remain a major obstacle to the society’s ambitions. PSSN said students face academic pressure, limited professional exposure and difficulties accessing sponsorship for conferences, research opportunities and community outreach programmes.
The society relies largely on modest student registration fees of N$30, making it difficult to expand its activities and establish international partnerships.
“Not being exposed is like deprivation from education,” the leadership said, appealing to government and private-sector institutions to invest in pharmacy students.
They argued that international exposure allows students to acquire ideas, build professional networks and identify approaches that could be adapted to Namibia’s healthcare system.
PSSN also wants young people to have a stronger voice in healthcare decision-making, saying students possess ideas that could contribute to pharmaceutical innovation and improved access to medicines if given the opportunity to participate.
Its aim is to establish a broader national platform representing pharmacy students and coordinating educational and community initiatives.
PSSN said meaningful partnerships must extend beyond financial sponsorship to include mentorship, practical training, research opportunities and professional development.
The society believes investing in pharmacy students today could help build a healthcare workforce better equipped to address medicine shortages, strengthen research and contribute to a more self-reliant pharmaceutical sector.
