Since the Millennium Development Goals came into being in 2000, various reports have been published around healthcare achievements in Africa. One of the most notable          improvements is that sub-Saharan countries have collectively increased the region's overall life expectancy by 16.5% over the past decade and a half.

According to a press release made available to CEOAfrica by Be-cause Integrated Communications on behalf of Liberty Health, data presented by the World Bank shows that life expectancy in Africa has improved significantly over the past 15 years

Based on the data, World Bank revealed that life expectancy of Malawians increased by 51%, from 41.4 years in 2000 to 62.7 years, fourteen years later. Zambia increased by 38.6%, Zimbabwe increased by 37.8%, and Rwanda which increased by 21.25% fared well too – largely due to progress on the HIV and malaria front. These two trends are driven improved access to anti-retroviral drugs and availability of mosquito nets. A growing health insurance membership also played an important role in improving life expectancy.

The statement also noted that a recent KPMG report sketches a similar scenario, adding that the future of healthcare in Africa lies in health insurance products provided by private medical companies, although government-initiated programmes will also play an important role.

CEO of Liberty Health, Andrew Schwulst, agreed that the number of lives covered by health insurance in Africa is growing. He said “This is mostly due to increased spending power, which is fuelled by a rising middle class, but also due to the fact that employers, including large corporates and multinationals, are acknowledging the benefits of contributing towards their employees’ health insurance premiums”.

Schwulst further stated “Whilst our client base in Africa includes individuals, the majority is made up of local and international employees of large corporates and multi-nationals. Between 2015 and 2016, our membership in Africa has grown by 15%. We foresee more growth, particularly since Africa is fast becoming an attractive investment option for global companies. Our benefits are tailored to different employee groups, which makes us attractive to corporates, regardless of sector.”

While noting that employers who contribute to their staff's medical aid, tend to see it as an investment in their company, Schwulst added that “Covering your employees' health, means you cover your most important asset, this results in the reduction of their financial stress, which in turn results in boosted loyalty and happier staff - essentially, it’s insurance to your firm.”

A second reason why more and more corporates and multi-nationals with operations in Africa, local or international, are contributing towards employees' medical aids, is that people who are covered, tend to see a doctor sooner, which can save tens of thousands of dollars a year. “The longer it takes for someone to go see a doctor, the more risks of complications and the longer it takes for them to get healthy. Healthcare insurance means that employees are likely to go for more regular health checks,” Schwulst noted.

He also added that health insurance gives staff access to facilities, which are efficiently run and well resourced. This enables employees to be back at their desks a lot sooner, which can save their employers thousands of dollars in terms of paying out sick leave and hiring a replacement.