Going beyond the call of duty, which is traditionally to provide telecommunications services, Globacom, one of Nigeria’s leading telecom operators, has veered into health insurance by launching a National Mobile Health Insurance product.
Convinced that this product would help drive access to quality healthcare delivery system in the country for Nigerians, Globacom sees the newly introduced product as an opportunity not to be missed, especially given the challenging health situation in the country, where access to quality healthcare is not within reach of a majority of the population.
The product launch took place in Abuja, the country’s capital; but is expected to cascade throughout the country as subscribers on the Glo network using the product would be able to access basic information about Health Insurance Scheme at the touch of their phones.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni, said the package was developed in partnership with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to take health care delivery to millions of Nigerians through telephone handsets.
“There are millions of Nigerians yet to tap into the immense benefits of health insurance. This initiative will open a viable avenue for some of these people to come under the health insurance coverage, enabling them to sign up for one of the many Health Management Organisations accommodated in the scheme,” said Israni.
According to him, Glo subscribers are required to dial *616# on their mobile phones and be instantly admitted to the Glo Health platform, where they can follow a simple registration process.
Once they subscribe, Globacom customers will be able to use their mobile phones for pre-defined medical treatment for which affordable premiums are remitted through the subscribers’ mobile phone.
The platform, according to him, also guarantees Globacom customers and other Nigerians free medical consultation and medication in over 8,000 hospitals in the country.
Israni said Globacom’s package comes with supply of drugs free of charge from NHIS accredited operators across the country for subscribers who are consistent in the payment of their premiums.
He explained that the premiums have been deliberately made affordable for virtually everyone. He said subscribers can pay N35 per day, N250 per week or N1000 per month to qualify to benefit from the mobile insurance package.
“We do not know when we will fall sick and require medical attention. The beauty of health insurance is that it takes away the burden of worrying whether you will have any money left in your account or in your wallet when next you fall sick. With health insurance cover, anytime you fall sick, you can rest assured that you will have access to quality medical treatment even if you have nothing left in your wallet or in your bank account,” he said.
He said the product will go a long way in realizing the national objective of extending health insurance to Nigerians regardless of their financial status or social class.
“Together with our partners, Salt & Einstein MTS and NHIS, Globacom is committed to achieving universal health coverage for all Nigerians within the shortest time possible,” Israni stated.
The Chief Executive Officer of NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas, in his own remarks commended Globacom for providing its infrastructure for the project. He said the contribution of Globacom in the national effort to bring quality health to Nigerians is much appreciated.