New e-medical card to be sold in Uchumi outlets

By Luke Anami

Kenyans will now be able to buy the Changamka Microhealth electronic card at Uchumi Supermarket outlets countrywide.

The e-medical card, which covers the cost of one hospital treatment, is an initiative between Changamka Microhealth Limited and General Accidents Insurance.

The card, which costs Sh50, plus a minimum value of one hospital visit, Sh450, covers medicine, lab and consultation expenses, and is topped up via M-Pesa.

"Funds are held and managed by GA Insurance who are responsible for settling medical provider bills," Samuel Agutu, Changamka Microhealth Chief Executive Officer said at the signing of the partnership with Uchumi Supermarkets, yesterday.

Uchumi’s Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Ciano, welcomed the innovation, saying the Smart Card will bring medical services closer to the people.

Less Privilaged

"The card will assist the less privileged to access health services. We welcome anybody with innovative ideas that would benefit Kenyans to partner with us to get the ideas to them," Ciano said

He lauded the initiative since it covers a segment that had been ignored by formal medical insurers.

The Changamka card is currently available in Nairobi, but plans to roll out to strategic locations countrywide next month.

The first electronic card of its kind, it enables the users to save money on their E-Cards and to use the saved funds at a fixed affordable charge.

However, the card does not cover chronic ailments, and Agutu said people would have to offset charges not covered by the scheme.