The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has reaccredited 39 companies for Health Maintenance Organisation, HMO business in Nigeria. After due diligence and a painstaking audit process together with PwC, the regulatory agency re-accredited among the leading firms for HMO business as Hygeia, THT and Mansard Health.
The regulatory body gave guidelines to retain HMO business to include capitalisation of up to N400 Million for national, N200 million for state and N100 Million for Zonal operators respectively. Subsequently, the NHIS gave approval to 39 firms.
The NHIS defines HMOs as a private or public incorporated company registered by the Scheme solely to manage the provision of health care services through health care facilities accredited by the Scheme.
Welcoming the new development, Tope Adeniyi, chief executive officer of Mansard Health Limited noted that it gives the company further impetus to maintain and even improve on the excellent services they are already offering to the public.
He stated that Mansard Health has as its cardinal policy, to offer top of the range services to its clientele across board.
Adeniyi stated that Mansard Health ranks amongst the top HMOs both in capital as well as high quality service delivery in Nigeria, and adds that its recent capitalisation along with the Mansard Group’s capital base in excess of N15 Billion gives it more than enough strength to operate in the system. He stated that the company has recapitalised since May 2013 to give it a national HMO operations status.
He noted that Mansard Health product offerings are divided into Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and International health plans. “All plans have comprehensive healthcare offerings for family, individual and corporate clients,” Adeniyi stated.
Adeniyi stated that the company has begun key innovative process leading to massive investment in information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. This has led to deployment of a 24/7 Call Centre to boost its service offering to clients.
“IT solutions are key drivers in our new operations. Deploying IT infrastructure has cut down waiting time of our clients in the hospitals as well as enhanced the payment of claims to the providers from market experience of three months to just two weeks.
“We also offer pre-booking services online which makes it easier for our clientele to reach us. Our 24-hour Call Centre which can be accessed through clients’ mobile phones from anywhere, and at anytime,” Adeniyi said.
The Mansard Health operates through a network of hospitals spread across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja. It also underwrites International health plan which enables Mansard Health clients to have easy access for treatment abroad.
In addition, Mansard Health provides International Evacuation activation system which allows for critically ill clients to be flown overseas in air ambulance for treatment.

In keeping with its strategy of retail expansion in the drive to make insurance products and services readily accessible to Nigerians from all walks of life, Mansard Insurance plc has opened two new Mansard Welcome Centres in Enugu, Enugu State and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Following on the official opening of the Mansard Welcome Centre at Suite A5, Bethel Plaza, Garden Avenue, Enugu State was the opening of the Uyo centre.

The Mansard Welcome Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State which is located at Number 110, Abak Road, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State is meant to serve customers and prospects. The Mansard Welcome Centre was formally declared opened at a brief ceremony on Friday August 22, 2014 by the Special Adviser to the Commissioner of Youth & Sports, Akwa Ibom State – Honorable Ese Umoh. At the tape cutting event, Honorable Umoh appreciated the management of Mansard Insurance for coming to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to empower the youths and also increase the awareness and benefits of risk management in the state. The ceremony was followed by an awareness walk to sensitize the residents of Uyo on the usefulness of insurance.

The Mansard Welcome Centres provide opportunity to purchase Mansard’s products and services in the life, non-life and health insurance segments. Customers may also receive after sales services at the centres.

In the last quarter, four new Mansard Welcome Centres were opened, in the South West; at 15/17 Opebi Road Lagos State and Broking House in Dugbe Ibadan Oyo State, in the North West; at Minna Central Business District, Niger State and at Angwar Rimi GRA, Kaduna North, Kaduna State.

The new Mansard Welcome Centres in Enugu and Uyo brings to nineteen, the number of such centers across Nigeria.

*Report says Africa Leapfrogging World Economies

 Standard Chartered Bank Plc in its 2014 African Report has stated that a new “confident African middle class is emerging, and trade is expanding rapidly, notably with Asia.” The report notes that “Africa is leapfrogging old technologies and embracing the digital revolution, leading the world in innovation such as mobile payments.” Standard Chartered Bank, commissioned an independent report, and put together by Professor Ethan Kapstein of Georgetown University, United States.

According to the report, which was presented to journalists in Lagos, by Dr. Rene Kim, founding Partner at Steward Redqueen, although the dearth of infrastructure and barriers to intra-nation trade is hampering a much bigger trade, Africa has recorded consistent growth faster than the rest of the world in the last decade.

The report which measured the impact of Standard Chartered Bank’s operations in terms of economic value added and employment supported, also considered the bank’s impact on Africa’s trade, deploying a global network spanning more than 68 countries, as the only international bank with a major presence across both Africa and Asia. It further undertook a qualitative assessment of other ways in which Standard Chartered Bank contributes to local communities in Africa, including through financial innovation, risk management, business practices and community investments.

“By measuring direct and indirect impact”, the report shows that “our operations and financing support some 1.9million jobs in the markets where we operate in Sub-Saharan Africa. The bulk of these jobs are in advanced, high value-added sectors – the fast-growing manufacturing and service industries that are changing the face of Africa’s economies. We contribute $10.7 billion in economic value added, equivalent to 1.2 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP. The bank supports sub-Saharan trade worth $7.2 billion.”

Dr. Kim noted that Africa’s share of world trade amounts to 5% but records only 3% of intra-African trade. “A number of reasons can be adduced for the lack of intra-African trade, part of which include lack of or dearth of infrastructure. There is also the issue of barriers which needed to be taken out for effective intra-Africa trade.”

He credited the emerging Africa economic success for having been “built on solid foundation that is sustainable for the long time.” He however stated that despite “Africa’s strong performance, poverty and income inequality continue to be significant challenges.”

He further stated that “job creation is not keeping pace with the continent’s rapidly growing population.” Most critically, Dr. Kim stated that “quality jobs are essential to eradicating poverty and fostering real development in economies. Banks fuel employment by providing credit and other financial services that help businesses set up trade and expand – and by working with governments to remove barriers to economic activity.”

Standard Chartered Bank has operated in Africa for over 150 years and the region remains a core part of the bank’s group strategic intent. It re-entered Nigeria (after the 1976 nationalisation programme) in 1999. It has over 180 branches in 15 countries and over 8,000 staff. Standard Chartered Bank Africa is a highly respected, well established ‘household name,’ with deep-rooted local knowledge and experience. The bank also has a unique international footprint which enables it to facilitate the growth of international trade corridors between Africa and the rest of the world. With a world-class suite of products, services, distribution channels and systems, the bank provides customers with increasingly sophisticated and pioneering banking services – unrivalled in Africa.