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Regulations Relating to Podiatrists, 2026

Government Notice 61 of 2026

Regulations Relating to Podiatrists, 2026
This is the latest version of this Government Notice.
Citation
Government Notice 61 of 2026
Primary work
Health Professions Act, 2024
Date
9 March 2026
Language
English
Publication
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Coat of Arms
Health Professions Act, 2024

Regulations Relating to Podiatrists, 2026

Government Notice 61 of 2026

Under section 91(1) of the Health Professions Act, 2024 (Act No. 16 of 2004), after consultation with the Allied Health Professions Board and on the recommendation of the Health Professions Council of Namibia, I have–(a)made the regulations set out in the Schedule; and(b)repealed the–(i)Rules for the Registration of Chiropodists published under Government Notice No. R.2294 of 3 December 1976; and(ii)Regulations Relating to Registration by Chiropodists of Additional Qualifications published under Government Notice No. R.2295 of 3 December 1976.

1. Definitions

In these regulations, a word or an expression defined in the Act has that meaning and unless the context indicates otherwise—“equivalent qualification” means a qualification obtained after full-time education, tuition and training of similar course and comprising of similar subjects as specified in regulation 2(2);“medical practitioner” means a person registered as a medical practitioner under section 34 of the Act or authorised to practice as a medical practitioner under section 37 of the Act;“medicine” means medicine as defined in section 1 of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, 2003 (Act No. 13 of 2003);“podiatrist” means a person registered as a podiatrist under section 34 of the Act; and“the Act” means the Health Professions Act, 2024 (Act No. 16 of 2024).

2. Minimum requirements of study for registration as podiatrist

(1)Subject to other requirements of the Act, the Council may register a person as a podiatrist, if the person holds any of the following qualifications—
(a)a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Podiatry; or
(b)an equivalent qualification,
after receiving full-time education from an educational institution for a period of not less than four years.
(2)The curriculum for the qualification referred to in subregulation (1) must include the following subjects—
(a)basic science: physics;
(b)basic science: chemistry;
(c)anatomy and physiology;
(d)clinical practice;
(e)human science;
(f)medical science;
(g)podiatry medicine;
(h)podiatric anatomy (theory and practical);
(i)podiatric orthotics;
(j)applied pharmacology; and
(k)podiatric surgery.

3. Registrable additional qualifications

(1)Subject to section 38 of the Act, the qualifications referred to in the Annexure may be registered as additional qualifications for a podiatrist.
(2)Despite subregulation (1), the Council may recognise other additional qualifications not listed in the Annexure and that qualification must be entered against the name of a podiatrist as an additional qualification, if that additional qualification complies with section 38 of the Act.

4. Application for registration as podiatrist

(1)A person who holds a qualification referred to in regulation 2(1) may in terms of section 33 of the Act, apply to be registered as a podiatrist.
(2)An application referred to in subregulation (1) must in addition to the documents referred to in section 33 of the Act, be—
(a)made on form 3 set out in the Annexure to the Regulations prescribing application forms, certificates and licences published under Government Notice No. 26 of 23 February 2026 submitted to the Registrar; and
(b)accompanied by a certified copy of the identity document or passport of the person.
(3)The Council may require the applicant to furnish proof of his or her proficiency in the English language, in the manner that the Council may determine.

5. Scope of practice of podiatrist

The following acts fall within the scope of practice of a podiatrist, in the conducting of his or her practice—
(a)perform routine and specialised podiatric skills and techniques to clinically assess, diagnose, treat and manage conditions or infections affecting a foot or ankle;
(b)promote feet health and the prevention and rehabilitation of a feet or ankle ailments;
(c)recognise and evaluate the signs and symptoms of general conditions that impact the feet or ankle for the purpose of treatment, and referral to a medical practitioner or other practitioners for subsequent management where required;
(d)treat feet or ankle conditions such as flat feet and foot imbalance by using corrective devices;
(e)perform minor podiatry surgical procedures on feet, for the removal of foreign bodies such as ingrown nails, where general anesthetics are not required;
(f)treat disorders of bones, joints, skin and nails of the feet or ankle; and
(g)recommend footwear for specific foot conditions.

6. Restoration of name to register

The register of podiatrist established and kept in terms of section 46 of the Act must, in addition to the particulars specified by subsection (3) of that section, contain—
(a)any particulars that Council may determine; and
(b)any change in the particulars recorded in the register.

7. Language of forms and documents

(1)A document required to be submitted to the Council or the registrar in terms of these regulations must be in the English language.
(2)A document referred to in subregulation (1) that is not in the English language must be accompanied by a sworn translation of that document in the English language.

Annexure (Regulation 3)

Registrable additional qualifications

Master of Health Science: PodiatryDoctor of Philosophy in Health Science: Podiatry

History of this document

09 March 2026 this version
Commenced
02 December 2025
Assented to
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