GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
                                                            OF THE

                       REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
N$6.00                                         WINDHOEK - 3 April 2020                                                        No. 7169

                                                           CONTENTS
                                                                                                                                      Page
GENERAL NOTICE

No. 129     Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority: Covid - 19 Pandemic: Declaration of undesirable
            practice in terms of Section 4(9) of the Medical Aid Funds Act, 1995 ..................................................      1
                                                      ________________


                                                 General Notice
            Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority

No. 129                                                                                                                               2020

     COVID - 19 PANDEMIC: DECLARATION OF UNDESIRABLE PRACTICE IN TERMS
                OF SECTION 4(9) OF THE MEDICAL AID FUNDS ACT, 1995

1.        Following reports of confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease, commonly known as
          COVID - 19, in Namibia, and the declaration by the President of the Republic of Namibia
          His Excellency, Dr. Hage G. Geingob of a state of emergency, certain medical aid funds
          (“Funds”) have taken measures to minimize the impact of COVID - 19 on the business of the
          Funds.

2.        The World Health Organization (“WHO”) has declared that: “Diagnostic testing for COVID -
          19 is critical to tracking the virus, understanding epidemiology, informing case management,
          and to suppressing transmission.” (WHO, 2020) Having regard to the seriousness of the
          COVID - 19 pandemic and its implication on human life, it is imperative that members
          of Funds who meet the criteria for laboratory testing, be afforded access to the diagnostic
          testing and subsequent healthcare treatment recommended by WHO in accordance with their
          benefit option limits.

3.        Against this background and under section 4(9) of the Medical Aid Funds Act, 1995 (Act
          No. 23 of 1995) (the “Act”), I hereby declare the practice of the curtailment of the use of
          benefits that members are entitled to in terms of the rules of Funds as an undesirable practice