NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND
NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND
2 | Africa Outlook issue 94
HEALTHCARE
YOUR HEALTHCARE, YOUR CHOICE Nammed Medical Aid Fund is taking the first bold steps towards implementing Project Nammed 2025 to simplify medical aid options in Namibia, as Principal Officer, Gert Grobler, tells us Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Callam Waller
Project 2025 endeavours to restructure Nammed Medical Aid Fund (Nammed), to make it simple for anybody to choose the right option suited to their specific needs.” Gert Grobler, Principal Officer at Nammed, is part of a dedicated, professional team responsible for providing healthcare and support to all residents in Namibia. Following Namibia’s independence from neighbouring South Africa in 1990, Nammed was established by the Namibian Agricultural Union with the aim of ensuring medical cover for farmers in the Southwest African country, who previously belonged to a South Africa-based medical aid fund. Since 1995, medical aid funds in Namibia such as Nammed have been operated under the regulatory authority of the Namibian Registrar of Medical Aid Funds.
“With the establishment of the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) in 2002, the regulatory framework changed, and the Registrar of Medical Aid Funds was transferred to NAMFISA,” explains Grobler. Gert Grobler
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Roman Catholic Hospital Quality Service
Since 1907
Roman Catholic Hospital a quality based health care facility, is situated in the heart of the city Windhoek, Namibia. It is located in Werner List Street, Windhoek, Khomas, Namibia. Over the centuries the hospital continues in the healing ministry of Christ even today offering quality health care to the people of Namibia and other neighboring countries We endeavor to provide compassionate care for those who are suffering from illness. And to help the patients find psychological, mental and spiritual stability and peace.
SERVICES
Out patient services • •
Consultant Out-Patient Clinics 24/7 Causality
Inpatient services • •
Internal medicine/surgical Intensive care unit/ High care
Theatres/ Specialties: Surgery • • • • • • •
General and Endoscopic surgery Orthopedic and trauma surgery Spinal surgery ENT surgery Urology and Laser Surgery Maxillo- facial oral surgery Cardio- Thoracic surgery
CATH LAB Service • • • • •
Cardiac surgery Open and endoscopic thoracic surgery Heart support group Coronary angiogram (angioplasty, stenting) Ivus, FFR Pacemaker implant
• • •
Pericardial taps Trans-esophageal echocardiogram Inferior Vena Cava Filter insertion
Other services • •
• • • •
Diagnostic Radiological and Laboratory services Clinical Nurse Specialists in the areas of Diabetes, Continence Management, Respiratory Care, Health Promotion, Infection Control, and Pain Management. Counseling services A dietetic service providing nutritional assessment, dietary advice, education and evaluation. Physiotherapy and Pharmacy services Pastoral care to the patients
Auxiliary services • • • • •
Path care Medical Imaging Pharmacy PH studies Dialysis center
Roman Catholic Hospital 92 Werner List Street, P.O. Box 157, Windhoek T +264612702444 E admin@rchna.org www.rchnam.com
NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND
NAMMED LIFE STAGES APPROACH Cover is planned according to the health and financial situation of members. STARTERS – AGE 18-25 • Beginning employment. • Low-to-medium income. • Low health needs. • For unexpected medical requirements. • Suited to Basic, Core or Active options. NEST BUILDERS – AGE 26-35 • Seek value rather than the cheapest option. • Need cover for expected medical needs of young families. • Suited to Active or Essential options. MID-LIFERS – AGE 36-55 • Middle-to-high income. • Medical aid is a routine monthly expense. • Suited to Essential or Standard options. GREY FOXES – AGE 56-60 • Moving towards retirement. • Health risks and prevalence of chronic diseases increasing. • Suited to Standard or Comprehensive options. WISE OWLS – AGE 61+ • Members approaching or in retirement. • Increased prevalence of chronic diseases. • Greater importance of extent of cover for major medical events. • Suited to Comprehensive option.
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NAMFISA has a number of statutory objectives when it comes to Nammed and other medical aid funds, including to protect their interests and members, and to monitor their solvency and financial soundness. Nammed is also an affiliated member of the Namibian Association of Medical Aid Funds (NAMAF), established to control, promote, encourage and coordinate the development of medical aid funds in Namibia. Through NAMAF, Grobler recognises the urgent need to find innovative solutions that will curb the unsustainable escalating cost of medical services. “Personally, I am very concerned about the rising cost of all medical services, which may culminate in the general unaffordability of medical aid funds and the total collapse of the medical aid funding industry with disastrous consequences in the near future,” he says. “The rise of medical costs boils down
to the use of technology, the cost of regulation, supplier- and member-induced demand, insufficient claims adjudication by administrators, as well as fraud, waste and abuse.”
CHOICE OF OPTIONS Despite this stark warning, Nammed has gone from strength to strength over the years, today offering a range of quality, affordable medical aid options to members across Namibia. At one end, members of the reasonably-priced Basic cover have access to a network of contracted primary healthcare service providers; at the other, Comprehensive members reap the premium healthcare benefits associated with hospitalisation and day-to-day medical expenses, ideal for those wishing to cover their medical costs to the greatest possible extent or those with health risks that may be perceived as high. With further medical aid options including Active, Core, Trauma,
R
oman Catholic Hospital was established on 30th November 1907 as a mission Hospital for the Roman Catholic Church with the vision of continuing the healing ministry of Christ. The Franciscan sisters of Nonnenwerth served as first administrators. Initially it was a 10-bed hospital and named ‘Maria Stern Krankenhaus’. In 1922 when it was 60 bedded facility it was renamed as ‘Maria Hilf Krankenhaus’. In 1925 it witnessed an expansion of a new wing which included five wards and two operating theatres. In mid 1930 the hospital was renamed as Roman Catholic Hospital and continues to serve the people of Namibia and others patients from other parts of Africa with the same Name. Time and again minor improvements were undertaken resulting from the influx of patients. It withstood First World War, different colonization’s, poverty, epidemics and other calamities. In the year 1923 the administration of the hospital was shifted from the Franiscan sisters, to the Benedictine sisters of Tutzing. Today the Roman Catholic hospital is owned by the Archdiocese of Windhoek, Namibia and administered by the Benedictine sisters of Tutzing with the dedicated service from number of staff. The quality service the hospital offers and its good reputation took the hospital in a gradual and steady developmental road. Now Roman Catholic Hospital stands tall in Service with 111 beds facility with various specialisations.
Our Story Began In April 1906, there were plans to open a private “lazarett” in a house under construction on Mission Hill, next to the Roman Catholic Church.
T + 264612702444
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Our story begins with our ‘fair maidens’ hailing from the Franciscan Sister of Heythuizen Nonnenwerth, being posted to this country to fulfill a contract with the ‘Army Hospital’, until 1907. On expiry of the contract, it was expected that these Sisters would return to their place of origin, However, because of their dedication to the service, His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, bestowed upon them the Red Cross Brooch, and instead of returning home, the Franciscan Sisters were posted to the new hospital at the Roman Catholic Church, on Mission Hill in Windhoek, on 30th November 1907 which they named ‘The Maria Stern Hospital.’ The new private hospital was described as very small and poorly furnishes, having only a few small rooms, yet it was a joy for the whole country. The hospital was poorly funded, and at times, care had to be taken of 36 Typhoid patients. Roman Catholic Hospital has come a long way since then and continues to grow while giving the best patient care to all its patients. Statistics from the hospital between 1910 and 1920 indicates:
Year
Patients
Operations
1910
95
38
1911
240
75
1914
263
110
1915
445
329
1918
527
359
1920
501
559
E admin@rchna.org
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www.rchnam.com
NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND Essential and Standard cover, Nammed caters for all the individual health needs and financial means of its members, applying innovative and unique methods to ensure that their requirements are met. Members often believe that they should purchase the maximum amount of cover that they can afford,
MISSION, VISION, VALUES At the core of everything Nammed does, the fund’s mission, vision and values keep it focused on delivering service excellence for members. MISSION – To grow Nammed by providing relevant and sustainable cover for the Namibian market, supported by high quality client service. VISION – Constantly striving to be Namibia’s preferred medical aid fund and healthcare partner. VALUES – Nammed lives and works by the following core values: • Integrity • Ethics • Excellence • Care
Chairman, P.D. Theron
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with little or no regard for the specific benefits of each aid option for their actual medical needs. With Nammed’s new Life Stages approach, however, choosing the right option is made easy, as options are tailored to different age groups and the health needs that generally correlate with those groups. Active cover, for instance, is aimed towards young, single members or smaller families that are in good health, whilst the Essential medical aid option is the ideal healthcare solution for individuals or families between the ages of 26 and 55. “Our current client base consists of large employer groups in the mining, insurance, financial and business sectors, as well as smaller SME groups and individuals all over the country,” Grobler outlines. When it comes to members, there are two major factors that give Nammed a competitive edge in the market. “Our members are not just a number; we regard them as people and families whose health we truly care about. We know them by name and our interaction with them is personalised. “Nammed’s service to members and health care providers is second to none,” affirms Grobler.
PROJECT NAMMED 2025 Optimising the options offered based on well-researched market needs, the Nammed Board of Trustees is progressing with the implementation of Project Nammed 2025, in order to meet the challenges facing the medical aid industry and to ensure the sustainability of the fund. The Board of Trustees, headed by Chairman, P.D. Theron, are responsible for making the educated decisions needed to ensure that the fund is regarded as a trusted name in healthcare across Namibia. The trustees undertook a comprehensive strategic planning
Mediclinic Private Hospital In safe hands The emergency centres at all Mediclinic hospitals have been expertly redesigned to safely and efficiently manage patients with COVID-19, as well as to tend to any other medical emergencies. The emergency centres have been adapted for all emergency cases. Each patient is treated with the high standards of safety and clinical care they deserve. Our trained professionals are prepared and ready to help, night or day, with any health emergency during the holidays. Our emergency centres manage access to ensure we reduce risk. Currently, we permit patients to be accompanied by one person as support. Mediclinic facilities make use of an internationally recognised triage system. Here’s what to expect: upon entering one of our emergency centres, you will be quickly screened at the door and have your details taken down. After being screened, you will be directed to a treatment area for an assessment. Patients with a red status will be prioritised, alongside patients with an orange status who require treatment within minutes of arrival. Patients with a yellow status have a physical injury or are unwell but may be able to wait a short while for treatment. Green indicates that the patient can be assisted when staff have taken care of red and yellow patients. During periods where risk is increased, the rules may be altered for your protection and to limit the risk of infection. Do not delay in seeking care. Visit your nearest Mediclinic emergency centre as soon as possible.
www.mediclinic.co.za
OUR 24-HOUR EMERGENCY CENTRES ARE ALWAYS READY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH EXPERT CARE If an accident or injury occurs, our multidisciplinary emergency service teams and hospital specialists are prepared and ready to assist with any medical emergency. Our 24-hour access system allows us to safely triage COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients in designated treatment areas.
MEDICLINIC OTJIWARONGO T +264 67 303 734
MEDICLINIC SWAKOPMUND T +264 64 412 205
MEDICLINIC WINDHOEK T +264 61 433 1000
EMERGENCY LINE +264 67 303 734 +264 81 144 0182/3
EMERGENCY LINE +264 81 210 0502
EMERGENCY CENTRE +264 61 229 246
SOUTH AFRICA • SWITZERLAND • UAE • NAMIBIA www.mediclinic.co.za
8019DWWD
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND
Mr. S. Kauapirura, Vice Chair
Mr. E. Kahuva, Trustee
Ms. Nicolina Swart, Marketing
Ms. A. Finke, Trustee
Ms. C. Hengari, Trustee
Ms. M. Van Niekerk, Trustee
process when it came to designing Project Nammed 2025 to ensure the fund remains relevant and competitive, reflective of the resolve and commitment of the entire Board to serving the needs of the fund. Thus, the overall aim of Project Nammed 2025 is for the organisation to compete across various market segments, namely the basic, low, medium and high cover markets. Nammed’s Standard and Comprehensive options are highly competitive in the high cover market, whilst the Essential cover is on par with the medium-to-high offerings of other medical aid funds. But in order to increase competitiveness, Nammed has embarked on an option design and restructuring process, informed by 10 | Africa Outlook issue 94
research findings on the income levels and healthcare needs of Namibians. Of the seven medical aid options currently offered by Nammed, the Option Consolidation Project will reduce and simplify this selection to four or five by 2025, with the consolidation of the Core and Active options being the first step. “Our market research has showed that the biggest challenge for the public is the complexity of the different product offerings on the market. They find it very difficult to compare the different options and make the correct choice,” notes Grobler. “Project Nammed 2025 is geared towards a solution for the complexity of healthcare, as it aims to simplify Nammed’s offerings on the market.”
HEALTHCARE
“OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT JUST A NUMBER; WE REGARD THEM AS PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHOSE HEALTH WE TRULY CARE ABOUT” - GERT GROBLER, PRINCIPAL OFFICER, NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND Transparency is key for Nammed in delivering the benefits of its medical aid options, as the fund wants members to fully understand exactly what they receive with their chosen cover. As part of Project Nammed 2025, the fund is also in the process of restructuring the Basic option for the low-income market, as well as investigating a possible name change. Meanwhile, Nammed has identified a gap in the medium-to-low market, presenting a value opportunity for increasing competitiveness as the options are restructured. Nammed already offers highly competitive contribution rates on all options for groups larger than 200, however the feasibility of offering the same contributions to groups of over 100 people are also being investigated, in parallel with efforts underway to attract younger individuals to the Trauma option, which is ideal for members wishing to only cover hospital costs. As well as Project Nammed 2025,
which will aim to grow the fund as fast as possible, the Nammed Board of Trustees has approved a new brand strategy for the fund, to be implemented from 2022 onwards. “The new brand strategy is very exciting, it will definitely change the current landscape in which we operate and I’m truly looking forward to it,” Grobler adds. “To position the fund to execute these strategies, we will recruit a Stakeholder Relationship Manager, a Marketing Assistant, and a short-term Marketing Consultant to increase the human capacity of the fund for the tasks ahead.”
COVID-19 SUPPORT In line with Namibia’s national goals to fight against COVID-19, Nammed will continue to fund testing, vaccinations and other treatments that members may need during the pandemic. It follows a reduction in the number of claims experienced by the fund, primarily due to lockdowns and
limited access to facilities for elective procedures, in a year characterised by circumstances never before seen in the history of Namibia. “The country experienced a very serious wave of COVID-19 infections between May and July of 2021,” shares Grobler. “Nammed ensured access to medical services for members and supported healthcare providers by adapting its rule interpretations to better suit the crisis situation.” With members increasingly conscious of their healthcare as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nammed’s informed choice of medical aid options are more important than ever.
NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND Tel: +264 61 374600 info@nammed.com.na www.nammed.info
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NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND
NAMMED MEDICAL AID FUND 1 John Ludwig Str. Klein Windhoek, Windhoek, Namibia Tel: +264 61 374600 info@nammed.com.na www.nammed.info
PRODUCED BY AFRICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE