FG reiterates commitment to intellectual property protection
Globacom unveils National Mobile Health Insurance product
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has reiterated government’s commitment to the protection of intellectual property right by introducing modern methods for industrial property registration in the department of commercial law (MITI) in 2012.
Aganga stated this during the celebration of the 2015 Intellectual Property Day with a theme: “Get Up, Stand Up for Music,” in Abuja.
He said: “A number of reforms were introduced, like online registration of applications in 2012, the technology and innovation support centre called “TISK” which had greatly assisted researchers, entrepreneurs, students and universities in accessing data and information about inventions and innovations, automation of registration process.”
He said that his ministry was working towards ensuring the digitisation of records.
“We have volumes of records which is an eyesore, starting from 1901. We have started the process to digitalise stark of files with the help of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and Japanese government” he added
Intellectual Property Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the need to safeguard and protect creations of the mind, believed to be the foundation upon which development and economic growth is spread.
In his contribution, the Chief Executive Officer, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr. Chinedu Angus Chuwhuji, said that the music industry contributed immensely to the growth of the economy, adding that it was one of the largest employers of labour in the country. Nigerian National Telecommunications Carrier, Globacom has unveiled a National Mobile Health Insurance Product to help improve access to quality health care among Nigerian population.
The mobile health insurance product was formally unveiled in Abuja on Monday by top Globacom officials and senior officials of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Speaking at the ceremony, Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni, said the package was developed in partnership with the NHIS to take health care to millions of Nigerians through their telephone handsets.
“There are millions of Nigerians yet to tap into the immense benefits of health insurance. This initiative will open a viable avenue for some of these people to come under the health insurance coverage, enabling them to sign up for one of the many Health Management Organisations accommodated in the scheme,” said Israni.
According to him, Glo subscribers are required to dial *616# on their mobile phones and be instantly admitted to the Glo Health platform, where they can follow a simple registration process.
Once they subscribe, Globacom customers will be able to use their mobile phones for a range of pre-defined medical treatment for which affordable premiums are remitted through the subscribers’ mobile phone.
The platform, according to him, also guarantees Globacom customers and other Nigerians free consultation and medication in over 8,000 hospitals in the country.
Israni said unlike similar products that any other operator may have, Globacom’s package comes with supply of drugs free of charge from NHIS accredited operators across the country for subscribers who are consistent in the payment of their premiums for the first three months.