Namibia: Us Health Deal Faces Data Privacy Backlash in Namibia
[Namibian] The government has rejected a United States health data and specimen-sharing proposal, citing sovereignty and privacy concerns while seeking alternative funding for HIV programmes.
The Namibian government has formally rejected a proposed U.S. health data and specimen-sharing deal, citing concerns over sovereignty and privacy. The deal, which would grant the U.S. extensive unilateral access to Namibians' medical information, contravenes Namibia's national laws and international agreements. The U.S. government has withdrawn the biological specimen sharing component but the broader health data issue remains in negotiations.
The Namibian government faces the potential cost of N$730 million per year for HIV programmes if an agreement cannot be reached. The negotiations, which involve the Office of the Attorney General, potentially breach Namibia's national laws and commitments to the World Health Organisation's Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system.
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