Modern Mining November 2019

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Health insurer makes inroads into Africa’s resources sector

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. K nown 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 support-

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 operat- ing in the resources sector, particularly mines, have very robust occupational health and safety protocols The Bupa Global Mining and Energy Forum specifically addresses the needs of the resources industry.

ing 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 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)

The Unisure Group’s new clinic in Lusaka, which is owned and oper- ated by its subsidiary, Specialty Emergency Services (SES).

40  MODERN MINING  November 2019