IMG takes over Microcare operations
Nov 02, 2009
THE International Medical Group (IMG) has taken over the beleaguered Microcare health insurance. The takeover comes shortly after the Uganda Insurance Commission (UIC) stopped Microcare from entering new policies.
By Anne Mugisa
THE International Medical Group (IMG) has taken over the beleaguered Microcare Health Insurance. The takeover comes shortly after the Uganda Insurance Commission (UIC) stopped Microcare from entering new policies.
UIC ordered Microcare to honour the existing policies on its books, but not to enter any new ones because it had failed to satisfy the commission’s conditions.
The order followed a High Court dismissal of Microcare’s petition for a judicial review to block the UIC from stopping its health insurance contracts.
The company, which covers 70,000 people in 157 health facilities, has been embroiled in a sh2b wrangle with different health care providers.
The providers were accusing Microcare of not honouring its insurance claims.
They were also seeking to wind-up the company. The court cases are still pending.
IMG, the proprietors of International Hospital and International Air Ambulance (IAA), said they would boost the insurance company to meet the set requirements.
“This is a natural progression for the group (IMG). We have been doing capitation medical schemes with IAA Healthcare. This is an opportunity for us to provide health insurance, which was the remaining gap,†explained IMG chairman Dr. Ian Clarke.
In a press statement, Clarke said IMG was “set to invest around $1m in share and working capital as it takes over Microcare.â€
Clarke added that the company is already in talks with the health providers as they prepare to open for business once the licensing requirements have been met.
“There will be no name change. We are keeping the name Microcare Insurance Ltd., since this company will be involved in purely medical insurance services.â€
Under IMG, Microcare will move next to International Hospital Kampala (IHK) in Namuwongo.
THE International Medical Group (IMG) has taken over the beleaguered Microcare Health Insurance. The takeover comes shortly after the Uganda Insurance Commission (UIC) stopped Microcare from entering new policies.
UIC ordered Microcare to honour the existing policies on its books, but not to enter any new ones because it had failed to satisfy the commission’s conditions.
The order followed a High Court dismissal of Microcare’s petition for a judicial review to block the UIC from stopping its health insurance contracts.
The company, which covers 70,000 people in 157 health facilities, has been embroiled in a sh2b wrangle with different health care providers.
The providers were accusing Microcare of not honouring its insurance claims.
They were also seeking to wind-up the company. The court cases are still pending.
IMG, the proprietors of International Hospital and International Air Ambulance (IAA), said they would boost the insurance company to meet the set requirements.
“This is a natural progression for the group (IMG). We have been doing capitation medical schemes with IAA Healthcare. This is an opportunity for us to provide health insurance, which was the remaining gap,†explained IMG chairman Dr. Ian Clarke.
In a press statement, Clarke said IMG was “set to invest around $1m in share and working capital as it takes over Microcare.â€
Clarke added that the company is already in talks with the health providers as they prepare to open for business once the licensing requirements have been met.
“There will be no name change. We are keeping the name Microcare Insurance Ltd., since this company will be involved in purely medical insurance services.â€
Under IMG, Microcare will move next to International Hospital Kampala (IHK) in Namuwongo.