Prosperity Health goes to Tanzania

IN what Kobus Struwig, Managing Director of Prosperity Group describes as “an incredible business opportunity” and a “proudly Namibian initiative”, the Prosperity Group has extended its service offering in Tanzania as from March 1 2008.

The Group established itself as a healthcare insurer in 2004 and will now include Short Term Insurance to its operations. Tanzania, which for decades was a socialist state, began a programme to nationalise all its hospitals and medical facilities, including those run by Christian missions, in 1975.By 1980 all private medical practices had been terminated.But, says Struwig, “There has been a shift back to the capitalist paradigm therefore offering enormous potential for growth in this emerging market.The pyramid structure of Tanzania’s national healthcare system, stresses the need for private healthcare at an affordable cost.”European countries and multinationals are making huge investments in the country, paving the way for dramatic improvements in the quality of health and life.”Struwig also said there was strong evidence that an estimated 20 per cent of the 39 million population currently have disposable income, making this a market hungry for improvements in sophisticated health care services and short-term insurance requirements.Med-X, one of the Prosperity Group’s Tanzanian initiatives, now runs 11 primary healthcare clinics of which five were purchased and upgraded and six newly established by the Group throughout the country.Med X infrastructure also includes a pharmaceutical wholesaler which distributes medical supplies not only to their own clinics but also to medical providers within the region whilst Prosperity Life Tanzania are one of 12 active health and general insurance operators.Prosperity’s membership has increased to 30 000 members and is still growing.”From this secure existing base, Tanzania is the most logical next step for the Prosperity Group in which to start marketing their already successful Short Term Insurance arm and in particular their CashOutsurance product.””Our healthcare insurance policy provides Tanzanian’s with access to private healthcare facilities in – country as well as South Africa and India.”said Struwig.Prosperity Group in Namibia was one of the pioneers of tailor-made products and integrated systems that is trusted and has been operating very successfully over the past 15 years.Tanzania, which for decades was a socialist state, began a programme to nationalise all its hospitals and medical facilities, including those run by Christian missions, in 1975.By 1980 all private medical practices had been terminated.But, says Struwig, “There has been a shift back to the capitalist paradigm therefore offering enormous potential for growth in this emerging market.The pyramid structure of Tanzania’s national healthcare system, stresses the need for private healthcare at an affordable cost.”European countries and multinationals are making huge investments in the country, paving the way for dramatic improvements in the quality of health and life.”Struwig also said there was strong evidence that an estimated 20 per cent of the 39 million population currently have disposable income, making this a market hungry for improvements in sophisticated health care services and short-term insurance requirements.Med-X, one of the Prosperity Group’s Tanzanian initiatives, now runs 11 primary healthcare clinics of which five were purchased and upgraded and six newly established by the Group throughout the country.Med X infrastructure also includes a pharmaceutical wholesaler which distributes medical supplies not only to their own clinics but also to medical providers within the region whilst Prosperity Life Tanzania are one of 12 active health and general insurance operators. Prosperity’s membership has increased to 30 000 members and is still growing.”From this secure existing base, Tanzania is the most logical next step for the Prosperity Group in which to start marketing their already successful Short Term Insurance arm and in particular their CashOutsurance product.” “Our healthcare insurance policy provides Tanzanian’s with access to private healthcare facilities in – country as well as South Africa and India.”said Struwig.Prosperity Group in Namibia was one of the pioneers of tailor-made products and integrated systems that is trusted and has been operating very successfully over the past 15 years.