UNIMA INTRODUCES MEDICAL SCHEME

UNIMA introduces medical scheme (THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NATION WITH SOME EDITING) By ANANIYA ALICK PONJE The University of Malawi (UNIMA) has introduced a medical scheme for its students and academic and administrative staff. The scheme is called University of Malawi Medical Scheme (UNIMED) and its aim is to give the students and staff a chance to access the best kind of medical services once they fall ill. In a meeting with Chancellor College students which was convened in the Great Hall last Monday evening (31st August) at the institution, University Office officials highlighted some of the significant aspects of the scheme which got implemented on 1st August this year. According to the officials one begins to have access to medication under UNIMED the moment they become a member. The officials also clarified on the requirements for someone to become a member, especially students. However, there was controversy among students who initially thought they were required to cough something from their pockets to pay for membership. It is not a compulsory thing that every student becomes a member of UNIMED, hence those who already belong to other medical schemes may opt to change or not. The officials clarified that the students are not required to pay anything, but that the money would be deducted from their school fees. Thus, calm returned. Non-residential students will also pay through their usual medical contribution. According to documents from the University Office, the scheme has three levels of cover namely the Comprehensive Cover, the Standard Cover and the Student Cover. The Comprehensive Cover is the highest level of cover for the scheme and is open to UNIMA administrative and academic staff and their dependants and Clerical Technical and Support staff (CTS) in salary grades H, I and J. The monthly contribution of K2, 875 for the Comprehensive Cover is paid in full by the University for the employee and 50 percent of the employee’s registered dependants. The Standard Cover provides benefits to CTS staff in grades A to G together with their dependants. The contribution is K1, 105 per month and conditions of are the same as those of the Comprehensive Cover. The last cover, the Student Cover is meant for undergraduate and post-graduate students from all the five constituent colleges of UNIMA. The monthly contribution is K550 and is paid in full by the University for all residential students. For non-residential, mature entry and post-graduate students, the contribution will be received by colleges together with other fees and the colleges will remit the contribution to the scheme. This means that student’s fears are duly quelled – they do not need to pay any extra money apart from what they have been paying all along. According to the University Office officials, the scheme is going to be beneficial to all UNIMA college clinics which have since been declared self-sustaining. “For instance, your college clinic no longer has an allocation from the college funds. So UNIMED will make sure you get the best medication at the clinic and other listed hospitals,” said an official from the University Office, speaking to the students. And his colleague added: “You will be allowed to visit government hospitals, Banja la Mtsogolo clinics and two general medical practitioners whom you will nominate upon your application for membership. Apart from college clinics, BLM and MASM clinics are countrywide UNIMED service providers. Among others, Blantyre has Blantyre Adventist hospital, Chitawira Private Hospital, City Health Centre and Dr. Thejopal as service providers. Lilongwe and Zomba have Adventist Health Centre, Likuni Mission Hospital, Family Dental Clinic, Dr. S.S. Hiwa and CCK Health Clinic and St. Luke’s Hospital, Zomba Central Hospital and Lions Sight First Eye Hospital respectively. Family Dental Clinic and Lions Sight First Eye Hospital offer dental and optical services only respectively. Students and all those on the scheme will access services from qualified medical practitioners and will have a wider selection of hospitals from around 30 of them that are on the approved list. UNIMED members also have access to the scheme’s Emergency Hotline 24 hours everyday. In an interview after the presentation, one of the University Office officials said the scheme has already been implemented with academic and administrative staff members including students at Kamuzu College of Nursing. “CHANCO students were on vacation. That is why it was impossible for them to apply for membership. But those who were here have filled the (application) forms,” he said. For students, all services are covered, except specialized dentistry, maternal delivery and post-natal maternity. The scheme also does not cover for foreign treatment both for the Standard Cover and the Student Cover; while it only covers 50 percent on the same if the patient on Comprehensive Cover has been referred from Malawi. For verification of the story, you may call the following numbers: 01524282, 0152357. Or the Medical Service Director on: 01524282, 01524456, and 01526622.