The Windhoek High Court has awarded N$14 million in damages to Angolan national Matheus Shakolo after the Ministry of Health and Social Services failed to oppose his medical negligence lawsuit.
The ruling was granted by default, meaning the court accepted Shakolo’s version of events after the ministry did not file a defence or challenge his claims.
Shakolo took the state to court over what he described as years of wrongful medical treatment while attending public health facilities in northern Namibia.
According to court documents, he was placed on tuberculosis (TB) medication in 2018 and continued taking the treatment for nearly three years, despite later discovering that he was allegedly not suffering from TB.
He claimed the medication was administered without proper explanation, review, or follow-up, and that his repeated attempts to seek clarity, alternative medical opinions, or access to his medical records were ignored by health officials.
Shakolo further told the court that he was pressured to continue treatment even when he experienced severe side effects, including dizziness, vomiting, loss of appetite, vision problems, muscle weakness, and emotional distress.
He also claimed the prolonged treatment affected his heart and overall quality of life.
In his court papers, Shakolo argued that health officials failed to assess his condition properly, failed to inform him of changes in medication, and continued prescribing drugs without confirming whether he still required them.
He said he only later learned that he had received the wrong treatment after consulting different medical personnel.
The court accepted that the prolonged treatment caused him physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Shakolo also claimed he incurred costs travelling regularly between Windhoek and health facilities in the north for follow-up visits related to the treatment.
As part of the judgement, the High Court awarded damages covering physical harm, emotional suffering, loss of income, transport and accommodation costs, and the long-term impact of the alleged medical errors.
The defendants listed in the case included the Minister of Health and Social Services, the ministry’s executive leadership, and a medical officer at Onandjokwe Health Centre.