A health insurance plan specifically targeted at companies operating in the resources sector in Africa is available from The Unisure Group, a UK-headquartered global health and life insurer with a strong African presence. According to Allister Langford, Head of Business Development at The Unisure Group, the plan offers competitive benefits, particularly within the context that mines and similar operations typically work to the very highest health and safety standards.
Known as the Bupa Global Mining and Energy Forum, the plan provides employee health solutions to companies active in the mining, oil, gas, energy, petrochemical and supporting industries in Africa. It is underwritten by Bupa, a leading UK-based healthcare provisioning and multi-insurance group with a strong international footprint. To service the plan, The Unisure Group maintains a regional operations centre in Johannesburg. This is alongside regional operations centres in London and in Kuala Lumpur.
The competitive pricing model adopted is based on the high standards of health and safety which characterise resource sector industries such as mining.
The company employs around 300 people in Africa. Most of them are based outside of South Africa – with significant numbers in Mozambique and Zambia in particular – and they are backed up by a large operations team in Johannesburg. Langford says: “We own Specialty Emergency Services (SES) in Zambia, which operates two world-class primary care clinics in Lusaka and Kitwe, and Mediplus in Mozambique, which is the country’s largest health insurer. SES has licences for both health and life insurance, while Mediplus is a health insurer only.”
Langford says that the key factor differentiating The Unisure Group from its competitors is that its flagship product, the Bupa Global Mining and Energy Forum, is sector-specific. “The pricing model we’ve adopted is based on the fact that companies operating in the resources sector, particularly mines, have very robust occupational health and safety protocols in place, more so than virtually all other industries,” he explains. “As such, we can price accordingly, offering material cost savings on premiums without in any way compromising on the level of care and benefits for members of the plan.”
Companies that qualify for the plan include organisations that supply services to the resources sector, such as those specialising in camp management or security.
The Unisure Group has a full-time complement of general practitioners, clinical officers and nurses on call. In addition, it has an extensive network of contracted consulting specialists and trauma surgeons to support its own staff. Informed telephonic advice and support on a 24/7 basis by a multi-lingual team of dedicated health professionals forms part of the offering and a full emergency evacuation service from even the remotest areas to the nearest centre of medical excellence is available. Typically, about 200 evacuations a year are carried out under the plan.
Langford stresses that The Unisure Group has extensive experience of working in Africa. “We understand the continent and the challenges it can sometimes present in terms of transport and logistics and we’re confident that the service we provide is second to none.”
As with most medical plans, the Bupa Global Mining and Energy Forum offers numerous pricing tiers, with overall annual maximum benefits starting from US$150 000 and increasing to as much as US$10,2 million. The cover provided by the plan gives members access to top tier hospitals globally.
The Bupa Global Mining and Energy Forum was first introduced to the market 10 years ago and has secured a good share of the market. “We are growing every year, and in some years very rapidly,” Langford says. “We now have approximately 7 500 employees and dependants in the resources sector covered by the plan. Mines and mining houses make up the biggest part of our customer base and our clients include companies such as Zimplats in Zimbabwe and Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia.”
He adds that The Unisure Group is on a rapid expansion path. “We already have an extensive African footprint, particularly in the southern African region, but we see significant potential for expansion in the continent and we’re currently targeting North Africa. We also intend adding more regional offices to our network. We already have offices in Luanda in Angola and Lubumbashi in the DRC and Nairobi is next on the list. We’re excited about the huge opportunities that the African market offers and we look forward to many years of future growth to come for The Unisure Group.”
