Banking business is not the only thing Kenya’s Equity Bank is looking to explore, the bank is now looking at getting into the health sector by opening a chain of clinics across the country which will be known as ‘Equity Afia’. A move that makes the bank the very first to explore healthcare.
Equity Afia will offer diagnostic services, laboratory tests, out patient care, pharmacy dispensing, dental services and health screening to individuals and companies. The health business will run under Equity Groups Foundation.
Progress to meeting this goal has already been experienced as the bank has already started hiring health professionals ahead of the plans. It is currently recruiting a chief nursing officer, chief laboratory technologist, finance manager and an IT manager to set up and run its network of health centres dubbed ‘Equity Afia’.
The bank says that: “we want to develop a network of health facilities, with different levels, across the country. EGF is seeking to hire a management team that will oversee operations of this network of health facilities.”
With the help of the health professionals, Equity Bank will help will design and manage the medical centres. Equity is banking on technology to automate healthcare services at its clinics, a job that will be assigned to the IT manager.
The entry into healthcare business is expected to boost the lender’s bancassurance business by designing medical cover packages acceptable at the Equity Afia clinics.