Globacom has become the latest telecoms company in Nigeria to launch a mobile health insurance product. According to the network, its product is in furtherance of its resolve to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The network is partnering with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to launch the Mobile Health Insurance product for the people. The product, which is aimed at improving access to quality healthcare among Nigerians, was formally unveiled in Abuja on Monday at a press conference attended by top executives of Globacom, the former Chief Executive Officer of NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas, the Chairman of Salt & Einstein MTS, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe and representatives of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs).
Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni, said the initiative will take care of the health of millions of Nigerians through their 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 HMOs accommodated in the scheme,” said Israni.
To enjoy the service, Glo said subscribers should 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 free drugs 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, saying 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.
