THE controversial Health Scheme Mustard Seed International (MSI) is not a health insurance organisation as speculated by some of their angry clients, according to their officials, Tuesday.
In an exclusive interview with the Solomon Star, MSI officials said they are aware that some of their good clients are spreading false information about the organisation in the social media which needs to be put right.
This paper understand that recently some of their clients labelled MSI as health insurance and another money making scheme to drain money from the government and tax payers money.
But the organisation’s spokesperson, Matilda Dora told this paper that is not true; MSI is not a health insurance organisation or even a money making scheme business.
“We are fully aware of the legality if any organisation wants to be an insurance organisation in fact MSI is just a health monitoring organisation which is answerable to its financial members,” Dora said.
This paper also understands that some private medical clinics in Honiara were part of the scheme but recently detached from MSI.
This has caused MSI financial members and clients to question why MSI had to remove these private medical clinics because some of their preferred medical doctors are working these private clinics.
They found out that MSI has now established their own clinic at Kukum, the new building next to the BRED Bank complex.
When the Solomon Star queried MSI, Dora said they believed there was a misunderstanding between their clients and the organisation.
“Yes MSI opened a new clinic for its clients or members. The reason was MSI found out that there were some discrepancies during billing from the private clinic.
“MSI used to put certain amounts of money into the private clinics account so when our clients and members access their services they deduct from that money.
“But most times we found out that those billings exceed what we expected and when we checked against our membership list we found out later that some non members are using what supposed be used by our members,” she added.
She said this was one of the reasons why they have to open a clinic for their clients so that they can monitor their members.
“But that doesn’t stop us to refer our clients if they want their specialist doctor because as a MSI member, the organisation will still pay the bill from that specialist doctor and for sure SMI also has doctors on standby.
“Be rest assured that MSI’s main aim is to look after the medical cost of our members and also monitor their health which again is totally different from a health insurance organisation,” Dora affirmed.
The Solomon Star was informed that the National Referral Hospital (NRH) Medical Superintendent Dr John Hue is looking after the MSI clinic.
Yesterday the MSI officials told the Solomon Star that a member of MSI will have access to various medical services even as far as sending their members overseas for medical treatment.
It was in April 2020 the Government through the Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmy Rodgers signed a Memorandum of Agreement with MSI to take care of the Members of Parliament Health under the Parliamentary Entitlement Regulation.
According to MSI officials yesterday, it was already gazetted as an official legal instrument.
The officials who spoke to this paper yesterday said currently they are waiting for the Public Service to give MSI the green light to also include the public servants in the health scheme.
Meanwhile, MSI’s spokesperson, Dora calls on any members who wish to find out the truth to visit their clinic to get the full explanation about some of the changes.
“Yes as a member you are welcome to come and discuss with us, and not spreading false accusation about MSI,” she added.
The Solomon Star understands that this health scheme has been operating in Honiara for quite awhile.
Somewhere in 1996 they provide similar health scheme for the police and correctional service which was also confirmed by MSI officials.
By ANDREW FANASIA
Newsroom, Honiara
