article · Human Resources for Health
Cross-border patient mobility is growing globally due to migration and uneven healthcare resources between neighbouring countries. In a border district in Namibia, healthcare workers interviewed about treating cross-border patients reported broadly positive attitudes towards serving these populations. However, four prominent operational challenges emerged: language differences that hinder clear communication, increased workloads, constraints on healthcare quality and continuity of care, and financial strain placed on the local health system. To maintain sustainable and effective cross-border care, findings highlight the necessity of formal bilateral agreements between neighbouring nations, better training and preparedness for staff, and dedicated resource allocation to offset systemic pressures.
Border populations frequently cross national boundaries to access medical treatment, placing unexpected demands on local health services. By detailing the direct experiences of frontline personnel, this research demonstrates the practical barriers to care delivery, offering evidence that can help health authorities and regional policymakers design coordinated bilateral policies, allocate clinical resources fairly, and improve patient communication.
While focused on health policy and operational management rather than a commercial product, the research highlights needs that could guide health technology developers. Practical applications include medical interpretation tools, cross-border electronic health records, and workload management systems for regional clinics. These applications remain at an exploratory stage, as the underlying findings are qualitative insights intended primarily to inform bilateral health policy and public resource planning rather than market-ready innovations.
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Cross-border healthcare is increasing globally due to factors such as migration, population mobility and disparities in healthcare availability between neighbouring countries. Despite growing interest in cross-border healthcare, research remains limited, particularly regarding the experiences and perceptions of healthcare workers responsible for delivering care to cross-border patients. Understanding these experiences is essential for informing strategies to improve healthcare access and delivery for populations living in border regions. This study explored and described healthcare workers’ experiences and perceptions of providing healthcare to cross-border patients in a district of Namibia. A qualitative interpretive phenomenological design was employed. Purposive sampling was used to recruit ten healthcare workers with diverse professional backgrounds and experiences. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews and analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-step descriptive phenomenological method. Four themes emerged from the data: (1) language differences and communication in shaping healthcare experiences; (2) the impact of cross-border patients on workload and healthcare workers’ perceptions; (3) the quality of healthcare delivered to cross-border patients; and (4) the financial implications of providing healthcare to cross-border patients. While healthcare workers generally expressed positive attitudes towards caring for cross-border patients, they reported challenges related to language barriers, continuity of care, resource limitations, and the financial burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers support the provision of healthcare services to cross-border patients despite several operational challenges. Strengthening cross-border healthcare arrangements through formal agreements between neighbouring countries, enhancing healthcare workers’ preparedness, and ensuring adequate resource allocation may improve the quality, continuity, and sustainability of healthcare services for cross-border populations.
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DOI: 10.1186/s12960-026-01092-w
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