With about 38 772 members and 80 082 beneficiaries, the Namibia Health Plan (NHP) is one of the leading medical aid funds in the country.
In August 2022, Dantago Garosas took over as the principal officer at NHP. Over the years, NHP has grown sustainably; its focus is to provide value-for-money healthcare benefits designed to cover the members’ needs.
New Era business journalist Maihapa Ndjavera (MN) recently had the opportunity to sit down with Garosas (DG) for a one-on-one discussion:
MN: What were your biggest accomplishments last year?
DG: We had an exponential growth of 14.7% in membership for the year, with over 3 700 members due to a take-on of mainly two large employer groups from the financial sector. It was a seamless take-on, which is mainly attributable to the excellent operational efficiency of our administrator, Medscheme Namibia. Also, during a period of high member claims experience, the fund still maintained the minimum solvency guideline per the regulator Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa). This is due to exceptional investment returns, under the stewardship of our diverse and well skilled board of trustees.
A strategic focus was also placed on servicing the uninsured market through the introduction of our low-cost primary care option called PharmacyCare – a drive to ensure that as many Namibians can have access to medical aid coverage at an affordable rate.
MN: What can NHP members expect from NHP moving forward?
DG: NHP offers exceptional service and technological innovations that streamline the membership experience and has always been an industry leader. We will continue on by keeping true to our slogan ‘We’re about you’. Our members are foremost in every decision we make.
MN: How do you see this organisation changing in the next five years?
DG: I foresee NHP maintaining its position as the leader in the private healthcare funding industry, with the adoption of technological advancements to further enhance our operational processes and maintain a positive member experience.
MN: What is your view on universal healthcare in Namibia?
DG: I think it is a good initiative and I have attended all stakeholder meetings to help contribute to the overall healthcare in Namibia. Universal healthcare can improve healthcare access, especially for societies’ vulnerable. Medical aid funds are playing an active role by attending the various stakeholder meetings.
MN: Why the need for fund administrators?
DG: The fund is legally allowed to employ administrators within the provisions of the Medical Aid Funds Act, and as approved by Namfisa. Administrators handle the day-to-day functions of the fund, such as claims and contributions processing and management, member record management, customer services, IT systems administration and all administratively related duties, to ensure the effective operations of the fund towards its members.
MN: When did you join NHP?
DG: NHP is the only fund I have been a member of, and true to my nature, I wanted to impart positively to my medical aid fund when I was nominated for a trustee position back in 2017. I further served as chairperson of the board from July 2020 until my appointment as principal officer in August 2022. It’s a privilege to be associated with such an organization, where members are not just a number but treated as people with unique healthcare needs.
MN: What inspired you to choose this path of principal officer?
DG: I am a firm believer in adding value in whatever I do, with the aim of improving the lives of others that I come into contact with, both personally and professionally. The role of principal officer affords me the opportunity to do that, and in an area that impacts us all at any given time of one’s life, which is healthcare.
MN: How is the journey so far?
DG: The journey has been very enriching. The fund has grown not only in membership but also in its stature as a leader in the private healthcare funding industry. We have been able to wade through the turbulent waters of a pandemic, and economic crisis as well as dynamic changes in the industry demographics, to name but a few.
MN: What do you do outside your professional life?
DG: Family is very important to me; life gets very busy but I always make time for my loved ones. I also enjoy praise and worship songs, reading and I break away at every chance I get to be out in the bundus, in the quietness and solitude to recoup.