By Noah Kupeta
THE emergence of the novel COVID-19 pandemic has arguably accounted for an increase in demand for the uptake of medical insurance.
In that respect, the country’s insurance regulator – the Zimbabwe Insurance and Pension Commission (IPEC) and the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), have joined hands in the fight against the ravaging effects of the pandemic in Zimbabwe.
The Commission is monitoring the impact of the pandemic on industry, policyholders and pensioners, with a view to informing regulatory and supervisory interventions.
“The Commission continues to monitor implementation of the corrective orders which are aimed at addressing issues raised during onsite inspections.
“Two new onsite inspections were conducted on a pension fund and administrator during the quarter.
“The commission is working with the respective institutions to address matters of regulatory concerns to ensure the adequate protection of policyholders and pension scheme members.
“Going forward and in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission’s thrust will be on offsite surveillances, given that it will be difficult to conduct onsite inspections,” notes IPEC Commissioner, Grace Muradzikwa.
The NSSA, on their part, have flexed their muscle in the fight against COVID-19 through instituting a comprehensive health insurance communication document: NSSA COVID-19 Guidelines.
The health communication document is part of greater efforts on organisational health safety since most people spent their time at work places.
NSSA Marketing and Communications executive Tendai Mutseyekwa explains that although the fight against COVID-19 is based on individual literacy to maintain social distance, concerning the wearing of facemasks in public and regular washing of hands with clean water, there was still a need for a practical approach:
“Our mainstay of interventions has been promotions rather than enforcement because when one goes with a stick, people tend to be very resistant.
“NSSA embraces the notion of social dialogue in pursuit of overcoming challenges employers and employees face.”
He went on, “Some of the communication means include virtual trainings, radio talk shows, newspaper articles as well as advertising across various media.
“We also compiled a document, NSSA COVID-19 Guidelines that informs organisations on how to effectively deal with the pandemic at the workplace.”
Information gleaned by this publication from NSSA COVID-19 GUIDELINES document shows that employers should keep everyone updated on actions being taken to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.
In addition, they should ensure that every worker has adequate and accurate information on COVID-19. Basic information about the nature of the virus; signs and symptoms of the disease; and how to avoid contracting or spreading the virus should be given to all workers.
The document also shows that information given to workers must be scientific and in keeping with the national (Ministry of Health and Child Care and NSSA) and international Guidelines (World Health Organisation).
The move will in doubt go a long way to directly or indirectly contain regional and global efforts that are meant to mitigate the lethal disease.
It is believed that such a national health communication strategy by IPEC and NSSA reflects much on global efforts by W.H.O to contain the disease.
IPEC and NSSA remain unfazed in their quest to minimise the rapid spread of the disease regardless of the harsh economic environment in Zimbabwe.
The International Monetary Fund has already indicated that Zimbabwe’s economy is expected to shrink by 7.4% in 2020 from an initial growth projection of 0.8%.
The economic decline is based on the economic uncertainties characterised by liquidity challenges, weak domestic demand, low commodity prices, low production due to Covid-19 induced lockdown, loss of income, below-normal agricultural production on account of drought and increasing inflation.
The World economy has negatively declined since the outbreak of the corona virus pandemic in November 2019.
Although global stakeholders continues to implement necessary quarantines and social distancing practices under national lockdowns to contain the pandemic, the world economy has been put in a ‘Great Lockdown’, which appears worse than the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.
In face of pandemics, medical insurance however becomes a priority for every person and requires innovative health communication strategies that are aimed at influencing behaviour change.
ZimSelector. Com Business Development director Zelina Francis told News of The South from her United Kingdom base that much as COVID-19 pandemic has affected the insurance sector, it is not the case with health insurance.
“For Medical Insurance the trend is quite the opposite in that people see the value in having medical insurance and keeping their membership up to date to avoid suspension, explains Zelina.
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