Today marked another important milestone for the insurance industry as The Unisure Group, Phoenix of Tanzania Assurance Co. Ltd (PTAL), (Part of MUA) and Smart Applications International extended their official strategic partnership into Tanzania at a media launch in Dar es Salaam.
Industry leaders, regulators, key stakeholders and members of the media came together to learn more about how this partnership in East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, which was first launched in Nairobi, Kenya, in May, will help transform healthcare in the region.
“We are extremely proud to be adding the Tanzanian market to the existing partnership countries. Tanzania is a key market in terms of growth opportunities in medical insurance in particular,” said The Unisure Group’s Deputy Executive Chairman, Stephen Conway.
“This partnership is unique in that three independent organisations – one insurance company, an international administration and assistance provider, and a medical services facilitator – have agreed to partner on projects that will provide access to quality healthcare across multiple African countries in a fully regulated way.
We’re incredibly excited for the long-term collaborations and new business opportunities that lie ahead for our Umatter International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) plans and look forward to adding additional countries to the four existing partnership countries.”
As The Unisure Group’s Head of IPMI, Daniel van der Merwe, explained, this partnership not only addresses the regulatory requirements that exist with cross-border insurance transactions, but it will bring quality medical insurance and service delivery to a larger number of members who previously would not have had access to this level of international cover.
PTAL’s CEO, Ashraf Musbally, echoed this commitment to greater access for all, and world-class service and customer care.
“This partnership greatly increases our operational footprint, and with this wider geographical scope, we can assure our clients’ seamless health insurance services globally,” he said. “At the end of the day, our top priority with the Umatter product is to ensure our clients receive personalised, world-class health insurance services across the globe.”
In partnering with Smart Applications International, The Unisure Group and PTAL members benefit from Smart’s biometric systems, resolving the challenge that many insurers have with regard to direct access to medical service providers, billing, and potential cases of fraud.
“Our goal has been to transform access to healthcare through the use of foolproof digital solutions and to increase medical insurance penetration,” said Grace Gathuri, Country Manager at Smart Applications International, Tanzania.
“For the last 18 years, Smart Applications Tanzania has been a leading pan-African technology player. With access to over 10 countries using our Biometric Smart system, we believe that our partnership with Unisure and Phoenix Assurance will catapult the provision of international private medical insurance coverage, both in Tanzania and throughout the region.”
The Unisure Group, MUA and Smart’s strategic partnership extends across East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. This includes Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, with Uganda and Rwanda following in the new year.