- Fund takes pride from withstanding Covid odds
- Principal Officer Dr Mapitse upbeat about growth
- Pula Med taps on innovation for diversification
BAKANG TIRO
In an endeavor to equally respond to the changing customer needs necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, Pula Medical Aid has rebranded to Pula Med commencing the transformation of the fund.
Pula Med Principal Officer Dr Khumoetsile Mapitse said Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the fund to adopt new business approach.
“The new name and new brand look represent the new start for the business going forward. When we began the branding journey, we put a number of factors into consideration, such as sticking to the uniqueness of the brand and therefore preserving the fund existing brand,” he stressed.
In addition, he said regardless of the size of the medical industry, change has been imminent. He said the Covid19 pandemic taught the fund lessons of being more agile and resilient.
Dr Mapitse, who boast of over 20 years’ experience as medical health professional having taken the helm of Pula Med formerly Pula Medical Aid in 2014 as Principal Officer ,said the fund is stronger.
“The medical aid industry is very evolving due to new technologies that disrupts business for growth and diversification. The business has remained strong over the years and we managed to withstand the Covid-19 pandemic after effects. This new journey is filled with optimism,” he said.
Dr Mapitse said the fund takes pride from being 100 percent owned by its members.
For his part, the Minister of Health and Wellness (MoHW) Dr Edwin Dikoloti hailed Pula Med; saying Covid-19 pandemic set the health system of every country behind one way or the other, but said the local partners like Pula Med bolstered the systems.
“Partners in health care like Pula Med were able to rise and look at the future with optimism. As the ministry we are responsible for oversight and politically we formulate the policies, norms and standards that make the sector to be in order. Our partners and their contributions to the development of the health sector is very important and helped us fight Covid19,” he added.
According to Dikoloti, health is an integral part of every society hence Pula Med is very crucial.
Meanwhile, Head of Stakeholders and Business Development at Pula Med, Kemmonye Phaladi, said the fund has been resilient in its 31 years journey.
He added that the fund has successfully achieved the project such as 200 HIV\AIDS management which to date has 10 000 people enrolled on the programme.
In 2010, he said the company opened Bokamoso Private Hospital in joint venture with Botswana Public Officers Medical Aid Scheme (BPOMAS) but later on sold out the stakes.
“In 2012, we embarked in Electronic Data Interchange which is very pivotal in the space. In 2020\21 we successfully distributed Covid-19 benefits to our members and we also extended support to the government through setting up the vaccination site to aid support,” he stated.
Phaladi also said the branding was done without losing touch with the integrity of Pula brand. He indicated that fund is geared for growth given the opportunities that it managed to access amidst the Covid-19 pandemic which have negatively impacted on operations of other entities.