Nationwide Mutual Healthcare, a private health insurance provider, has launched a series of activities to mark its 10th anniversary since beginning operations.

As the country’s first private health insurance provider, General Manager Anthony Sowah believes the company has come far and therefore needs to celebrate the feat.

“We think we have come a long way and it is a significant milestone worth celebrating. We have operated in very challenging circumstances, but there have been some notable achievements along the line.”

Activities lined up to mark the anniversary include a health-walk from the Polo Ground through some principal streets of Accra and back to the Polo Ground tomorrow.

“We want to burn some calories. There will be medical staff to screen for free and give medical counsel, and then aerobic exercises with some food and drinks.

“Next on Thursday, we will be undertaking some donations to the La General Hospital and the Children’s Hospital. Then we will be having a free dental screening and basic care for over 1,500 schoolchildren at Adenta.

“Then on Saturday, November 1st, we will have our awards and dinner night. We want to say thank you to service providers, employees and other stakeholders who have been influential in the journey. Then the next day we have a special thanksgiving service at the Mary Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Accra,” he said.

Recounting how far the company has come, he noted that the company started in a tiny room with just four staff, but today has a staff-strength of 51. The annual turnover 10 years ago was GH¢41,600 -- but currently, it stands at GH¢24million with a target of GH¢34million for this year, and last year the company declared a profit of GH¢1.8millon.

“These achievements point to the direction of the private health insurance industry. When we started we had only three corporate clients with about 345 members, but now we have 300 corporate clients with nearly 50,000 members.

“This means that people are beginning to develop confidence in the private health insurers as an alternative healthcare financing method. When we started, we had to explain the concept of private health insurance before we even talked about the packages of Nationwide; but today private health insurance provision is common knowledge and the industry now has about 22 players,” he said.

He added that Nationwide is collaborating with healthcare providers to provide quality and personal healthcare to its clients.

“We want our doctors to interact and explain whatever is wrong with the patient to the patient, and why this and that medication. We believe that medical practices must be evidence-based and not trial and error, so that we know what we are tackling.”