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Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe’s health insurance unit, Maisha Health Fund, has launched an innovative and convenient way to register for medical aid cover through mobile phone.
The service, which is available to all Zimbabweans by simply dialling *147# on a mobile phone, is expected to drive adoption through increased access to digital platforms.
Announcing the launch, Mr. Eddie Chibi, Cassava Smartech’s Chief Executive Officer, said the financial technology group had made strides in enhancing access to healthcare through paperless, digital solutions, that minimise cost, movement, and physical contact by members.
“We are faced with a health access challenge because of the COVID pandemic, and the *147# USSD platform will curb the hassles, as well as the exposure, that comes from physically completing forms, especially for the marginalised members of our population.
The launch of the service, a first of its kind in the health services sector, could not have come at a better time when the nation is battling the coronavirus pandemic. The service is set to go a long way in reducing infection rates by encouraging social and physical distancing through the use of digital platforms.
“As a group, we are committed to serving where the need is greatest, and we believe through such innovations we will be able to widen access and at the same time ensure convenience, safety and healthcare affordability to many, using technology,” he said.
Medical cover has always been the preserve of those in formal employment and often employer-driven. But with the new service, Cassava is opening up access for all – farmers, SME’s and those in informal employment.
“As a country, we currently have more funeral cover than healthcare cover. I believe with this launch, we have broken a major barrier to healthcare access, as we reach out to more people in more places using the mobile phone,” Mr. Chibi said, adding that Cassava’s digital solutions were designed to leave no Zimbabwean behind.
Some of the group’s products include EcoCash, Steward Bank *263#, EcoSure, and Moovah, which have addressed ordinary Zimbabwean’s call for inclusion.
Maisha Health Fund Managing Director Mrs. Hazel Banza said the USSD platform will give customers access to the existing Maisha Health Fund Medical Aid packages, which start from as low as US$8 per month, or the Zimbabwe dollar equivalent.
“At Maisha we pride ourselves in our personal and customised service to our members. In our drive to keep things as simple and accessible as possible, we have delivered an even smarter approach with our new mobile platform,” she said.
Mrs. Banza added that the new USSD platform also represents an extension of the digital transformation of healthcare services that Maisha Health Fund has rolled out in the last few months.
“With this new mobile phone platform, we have provided people with the necessary tools to access health services anywhere, anytime at their convenience, using a secure platform, thus empowering members to take ownership of their health,” she said.
The USSD platforms allow members to select a suitable package from a choice of six options. The choices include the options to add family, dependants, or for just individual cover.
Upon registration and payment, the next step is biometric registration at healthcare service providers. This enables our members to have a digital identity such that there will be no need for a member to carry around a physical membership card for them to access service
Maisha Health Fund currently provides medical cover to several corporates, individuals, schools, universities, and other tertiary institutions nationwide. Its members enjoy access to a wide network of doctors, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and labs nationwide.
Additional benefits for members include free technology-enabled consultation at Maisha Telehealth Centres or on the Maisha Medik App, free prescription drugs delivery – using Vaya Express – Maisha health tips and burial support, among others.