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Herald Reporter
Medical aid providers have been urged to scale up their operations to ensure that more people get cover.

Speaking at the official launch of Ndine Plan by Corporate 24, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro said an estimated eight to 10 percent of Zimbabwe’s population were on medical aid, with the majority being in urban areas.

He applauded the company’s innovativeness in catering for the needs of low income earners, but also urged it to “spread its wings to rural communities, which accommodate an estimated 70 percent of the country’s population”.

“We applaud you for this innovativeness, which is inclusive of low- income earners, but we also urge you to look into the majority of our population, which is in rural areas,” said Dr Mangwiro.

“Government is envisaging a country with village healthcare centres and we want to see such innovativeness reaching to those areas too.”

Dr Mangwiro said all the three schemes under the Ndine Plan have a potential of ensuring that the majority of Zimbabweans access basic health care services.

The packages range from US$3 a month for the lowest scheme to US$30 for the premium scheme and provides members with access to basic healthcare as well as premium care.

Speaking at the same occasion, Corporate 24 CEO Dr Mike Joka said the new plan, which is available online, was designed to respond to current challenges in the medical sector.