Medical Scheme motivates Civil Servants

“This demonstrates the Government’s continued effort and commitment to improving welfare of the employees” says a Lilongwe teacher.

Medical schemes in the country have always been a preserve of a few, mainly those working in the private sector and the lucky senior officers in the civil service.

This was a concern that has been haunting Malawi’s President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, who even before he came into office he has been talking of an all inclusive medical insurance scheme for the civil service to insure that the government employees are not only motivated to deliver but that top-tier talent is attracted to join the public sector.

And true to his word Monday marked a new chapter in the civil service when a Medical Insurance Scheme was finally launched marking a fulfilment of yet again another promise of Chakwera’s 2020 election campaign.

“In the fourth chapter of our manifesto, under Social Development, we promised to establish a health insurance scheme that covers people nationally. Today, several months after its successful rollout, I am delighted to launch this medical insurance scheme for our civil servants across the nation,” said a delighted Chakwera when he presided over the launch in Lilongwe.

Chakwera said it has always been clear in his mind that the key to improving public service delivery to the Malawian people is the reconstruction of the Civil Service which includes improving the condition of service to attract top tier talent.

The President said the medical insurance scheme was one of such initiatives to see an improved work environment in the public service.

Ruth Nkhambule Eliya is a Secondary School Teacher at Kabwabwa CDSS in Lilongwe and is one of the beneficiaries who observed that in the entire twenty six (26) years of her teaching service she has been thinking of a medical scheme as the preserve of the elite and not for a common Civil Servant like herself.

Speaking on behalf of fellow civil servants, Nkhambule Eliya, expressed gratitude to the Government and President Chakwera in particular for the initiative which she said “demonstrates the Government’s continued effort and commitment to improving the welfare of the employees.”

“The Medical Scheme does not only serve as a safety net for our health but also motivates commitment and dedication to duty as we now discharge our duties without the worry of healthcare expenses. It also reinforces our belief that our health is our Employer’s priority,” said Nkhambule Eliya.

She explained that since she joined the Medical Scheme her life has never been the same in as far as accessing quality medical care is concerned.

Said Nkhambule Eliya: “I am able to access quality medical services and care in various medical facilities both locally and internationally, which means that Civil Servants who join this Scheme are covered for both mild and complex health issues.

“The Medical Scheme has also minimized the psychological stress which I used to have when I fell ill. The Scheme offers one hundred percent (100%) medical cover for all MASM categories and there are no shortfall payments to be made.”

The Civil Service Medical Scheme comes with a Funeral Package, which means that even when an employee passes on, the Civil Servants’ Medical Scheme will be able to provide a respectful and dignified funeral farewell to the employee.

Nkhambule Eliya said as a beneficiary, she has not faced any challenges with the Medical Scheme.

“Last but not least, allow me Your Excellency to once again express my heartfelt gratitude for your dynamic leadership because in the entire twenty six (26) years of service of my teaching career, I have regarded a medical scheme as the preserve of the elite and not a common Civil Servant like myself. You have also changed all that by putting us, your Civil Servants, on the Scheme. You have made us all special,” said Nkhambule Eliya.

The major advantage of the Medical Scheme is that Government is paying 90% of premium contribution while the civil servants pay the remaining 10%.