NCSL announces partnership with private hospital

Caption:   Manager for Member Services and Branch Support, Richard Leka, and PIH CEO Dr Amyna Sultan posing with a NCSL value back poster.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, November 9, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

NASFUND Contributors and Savings and Loans Society (NCSL) announced its first product within the healthcare sector that will allow its members to benefit from discounts and loans for medical diagnostics to treatments at the Pacific International Hospital, last week in Port Moresby.

The offer will see NCSL’s 72,000 members both from Port Moresby and those around the country benefit under the savings and loans company’s, ‘Value Back Offer’, for discounts and loans processing for medical services.

Manager for Member Services and Branch Support, Richard Leka, thanked the management of PIH for the opportunity for NCSL to introduce one of its products through PIH for the good of its members nationwide, particularly in Port Moresby.

“In Port Moresby we have about 20 percent of the market share of our members, which is equivalent to about 30,000 people who will be accessing your services,” Leka said.

“NCSL has been in existence for about 11 years now and we have strived despite the many challenges, and have continuously delivered above our goals and objectives, particularly from a financial perspective.”

He said that the value back offer with PIH widens their current portfolio of discounts that they have with a lot of consumer goods providers on their product list, the agreement now diversifies it from a health industry point of view.

“As far as the offer is concerned- the mechanics is that an NCSL member will have access to the product only and when they provide their IDs (Identification Cards) at the counter and whatever arrangement is in place with the contact in terms of the value of the discount to the value of the service, it is given to the customer,” Leka explained.

“PIH gives the invoice containing the discount which is then attached to the loan application, that when granted the payment goes to PIH.”

“This is an exciting time for us as it gives our members the opportunity to have access to the many good services that you (PIH) provide.”

He added that the duration of loan processing for members would depend on the type of loan chosen from the two types they offer.

The two types available are the one is to one loan (same day service one to two days processing) and the one is to two loan (4 to four days processing).

“Criteria’s have to be met- you have to be a contributing member for more than three months- with the minimum that they can apply for is K200 and above.”

“As long as a member is making the application they can make payment for services for family members.”

On hand at the announcement of the product arrangement, PIH CEO Dr Amyna Sultan, also thanked NCSL for being very forward thinking in bringing up the innovative product as a reward and assistance plan for their members.

“I think that including provisions of health care services as part of this plan is really commendable, because we all know that healthcare worldwide is getting expensive as more advance technology becomes involved in practicing what we call best practice standards and evidence based medicine,” Dr Sultan said.

“This means that doctors do tend to do more tests and diagnostics facilities are available to get a more precise diagnosis and even treatment options have increased, which is where the role of the new Pacific International Hospital comes in, where the mandate for this private public partnership with IPBC is.”