NHP clarifies new FIMA rules
Namibia Health Plan (NHP) has clarified that members will not experience immediate changes under the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA) as the medical aid fund prepares for the new regulations. NHP recently hosted a media engagement session in Windhoek to explain the Act and clarify what it means for the fund, its members, and... The post NHP clarifies new FIMA rules appeared first on New Era.
Black News 
Namibia Health Plan (NHP) has clarified that members will not experience immediate changes under the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA) as the medical aid fund prepares for the new regulations.
NHP recently hosted a media engagement session in Windhoek to explain the Act and clarify what it means for the fund, its members, and the wider financial services sector.
The session aimed to help journalists understand FIMA so they could explain the changes to the public in simple, accurate language.
NHP Principal Officer Dantago Garosas said that the implementation of FIMA will not bring immediate changes for members.
“The significance of this information-sharing session is to create an ongoing dialogue with the general public and to sensitise journalists through fair, transparent and accurate reporting,” Garosas said.
She said NHP will continue to provide information as the implementation process progresses.
FIMA is a new law that will change how financial institutions and markets are regulated in Namibia. The Act affects various areas of the financial sector and aims to improve the rules governing how institutions operate. NHP Corporate Communications Manager Tunohole Mungoba said the fund aims to ensure the public receives accurate information about the changes.
“This engagement forms part of the Fund’s move towards engaging the media directly and proactively, rather than merely responding when issues arise,” Mungoba said.
The session also featured a discussion on how journalists should report on technical topics, like financial regulations.
Alvin Ntibinyane, Assistant Professor of Journalism at MacEwan University in Canada, encouraged journalists to explain complex issues in a way that ordinary people can understand.
“Journalists should move from institutional language to a language that citizens understand,” Ntibinyane said.
He said journalists must understand complex topics before reporting on them, especially when those issues affect people’s healthcare and finances.
During the discussion, journalists shared their understanding of FIMA, covering issues such as compliance, regulations, medical aid, Namfisa, deductions, and concerns about potential cost increases.
NHP said the engagement was intended to improve understanding of FIMA and help avoid confusion among medical aid members.
The fund said it will continue to communicate with members and stakeholders as more information becomes available.
Founded in 1997, NHP is Namibia’s largest open medical aid fund, providing healthcare cover for individuals, families and businesses.
The fund has received recognition in the medical aid industry, including the Diamond Arrow Award in the PMR Africa surveys and the Best Medical Aid Provider Award at the 2025 Best of Nam Awards.
The post NHP clarifies new FIMA rules appeared first on New Era.
