Altfin’s SMS based medical aid service now available across networks

L.S.M Kabweza Avatar

In June, Altfin announced that their SMS and USSD mobile based medical aid service, MedAccess, would be made available on the other two major mobile network providers in Zimbabwe. The company has delivered on that promise. Starting a couple of days ago, Altfin has been advertising the availability of the service to Econet and Telecel subscribers.

MedAccess, the country’s first medical aid service that customers can register and pay monthly subscriptions to via their mobile phones, was so far available to NetOne subscribers only. With just over 1.6 million subscribers however, NetOne is currently the country’s smallest mobile network operator and the reach of the service was understandably limited. Econet and Telecel have 6.4 million and 2 million subscribers respectively. This development extends the reach of the service significantly.

Curiously, only NetOne subscribers can use MedAccess system via a mobile shortcode, 35050. Mobile phone subscribers on Econet and Telecel have to access the service via a normal NetOne number 0716 000 001. This means Altfin couldn’t secure a shortcode at both Telecel and Econet. Of course this is no surprise, as currently, that process is known to be quite cumbersome for Value Added Service providers in Zimbabwe. It’s known to take several months from the time they apply for one to when they get it.

The MedAccess service is a micro-medical aid scheme targeted at uninsured individuals, mostly in the informal sector. For up to US $3 a month a subscribed household head can register their spouse and children on one mobile line. The transactions carried out on the system cost the subscriber an additional US 20 cents each, an amount which goes to the mobile operator. The service was launched in December 2011.

Update: Edited a typo that said Telecel has 4 million active subscribers. The company has 2 million active subscribers.

4 comments

  1. Aurther

    The issue of short codes is always a stumbling block to many good ideas in Zimbabwe. I have been there and experienced it. We need a common short code administrator in Zimbabwe that maintains a single database of available, reserved, and registered short codes. This can be at the push of POTRAZ. This will remove so much dependency on Econet. Normally VAS (value added services) such as short codes should be easily accessible to anyone with a good idea or whatever idea. I mean there is no limit to short codes just like mobile numbers, you can create millions of them. Econet is hogging everything.Without a common short code that works across networks most ideas/facilities will remain less effective. Even though we are generally making progress, there are many things wrong with the way we are approaching our ICT implementation.

    1. tinm@n

      They think different. Sometimes its ok to work with competition especially if you all benefit in the end. Take for example the duplication of resources by every network wanting to dig its own line of fibre. Many times even in parallel.

      Quite silly sometimes,… these network providers

  2. Raymond Swart

    Benefits, coverage how it’s used etc etc, would be nice for non technical people to understand how it works and whats covered.

  3. d.esq

    I mean really why should it be so hard to get a short code? Its really slowing down people with good Ideas. I emailed both telecel and econet and still have not gotten a response from them. There is absolutely no info about how to get one or how much it costs.

    I would also apprecitate an API document to say how you connect your application to their platform.

    Whats the point of having a pretty website, that has absolutely no useful info, or having support email addresses without people responding to the emails?

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