Executive Healthcare Solutions, AXA Global Healthcare and Old Mutual General Insurance collaborate to launch the Global Executive Health Plan (GEHP). What does this mean for Healthcare in Africa?
Healthcare in Africa is undergoing a quiet revolution. Rising wealth, growing cross-border mobility, and heightened health awareness are fueling demand for reliable, globally recognised healthcare solutions. In Kenya, one of the continent’s fastest-growing economies, access to international medical care is now considered an essential part of both corporate and personal well-being.
The launch of the Global Executive Health Plan GEHP marks a significant milestone in the Insurance sector, achieved through a strategic collaboration among Executive Healthcare Solutions (EHS), AXA Global Healthcare (UK), and Old Mutual General Insurance Kenya. The GEHP introduces a new era of International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) across Africa. This partnership is not merely about health insurance; it represents a structural change in how Africans access and experience global healthcare.
A Partnership Shaping Africa’s Healthcare Future
On October 30, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi, a new era in healthcare was launched. The collaboration combines three strengths.
- EHS’s 25 years of local leadership
- AXA Global Healthcare’s six-decade global expertise
- Old Mutual’s trusted regulatory and financial foundation.
Together, the organisations provide a unified solution that bridges the gap in Africa’s health coverage, combining international best practices with local compliance.
Under the agreement, EHS is the exclusive distributor of AXA Global Healthcare’s IPMI policies in Kenya. The GEHP is curated for individuals, expatriates, SMEs, and corporates, offering seamless access to world-class healthcare across borders while ensuring full compliance with local regulatory bodies.
Kenya’s IPMI market is projected to grow by more than 10% annually. This growth is driven by increasing demand for high-quality medical coverage and access to international services.
The Global Executive Healthcare Plan (GEHP): Redefining Access
The GEHP is a next-generation insurance solution that redefines what private healthcare means for Africans. It offers four levels of coverage: Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus. The prices are in USD, which protects members from changes in local currency value.
Other standout features include:
- AXA’s global network of 2.1 million healthcare providers, including direct billing arrangements in leading hospitals.
- Evacuation and repatriation support, ensuring care is accessible anywhere, anytime.
- Second, medical opinion and virtual doctor services provide members with global medical expertise from the comfort of their homes.
- AXA Health member support, offering 24/7 access to claims, care coordination, and crisis management.
As Karim Idilby, Chief Growth Officer at AXA Global Healthcare, noted, this partnership marks a “major milestone in AXA’s global growth strategy and long-term commitment to Africa,” with a primary focus on Individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
For policyholders, it means confidence. No matter where treatment is needed, from Nairobi to London, Dubai, or Cape Town, coverage follows seamlessly.
Why It Matters: Local Trust, Global Reach
For African consumers, navigating the healthcare system has been a significant challenge. They often must choose between limited public care and expensive private care in their local area.
Public health expenditure across sub-Saharan Africa averages only 5% of GDP, far below global benchmarks. Meanwhile, more than 35% of healthcare costs are paid directly by households, leading to financial vulnerability and delayed treatment.
The GEHP model addresses this gap through an innovative three-tier structure:
- AXA Global Healthcare provides international health insurance and operational excellence.
- Old Mutual ensures local regulatory compliance and financial security.
- EHS offers regional presence, customer care, and cultural understanding.
Aly Maherali, CEO of Executive Healthcare Solutions, emphasised that this partnership is built on “a deep understanding of Africa’s healthcare realities.” With over two decades of experience operating in Sub-Saharan Africa, EHS offers unmatched insight into client expectations, service standards, and logistical challenges.
Kenya as a Regional Health Hub
Kenya’s role in this partnership extends beyond distribution. Nairobi’s growing reputation as East Africa’s financial and medical hub makes it a natural launchpad for the GEHP. Through Old Mutual General Insurance Kenya, the product strengthens the country’s insurance ecosystem while anchoring new standards in compliance, transparency, and customer protection.
Japheth Ogalloh, Managing Director at Old Mutual General Insurance Kenya, remarked that the partnership “strengthens Old Mutual’s mission to provide accessible, trusted, and customer-focused healthcare protection” tailored to Kenya’s dynamic, globally connected population.
This alignment of global standards and regional expertise is expected to stimulate investment in advanced medical infrastructure, telehealth adoption, and digital claims innovation, essential components of modern healthcare access.
Beyond Insurance: Building Health Resilience in Africa
What makes this partnership remarkable is its long-term vision. AXA Global Healthcare, with its presence in over 190 countries, brings decades of cross-border medical experience and digital innovation. Old Mutual anchors the initiative in sustainable local governance, while EHS ensures customer-centric execution across East and Southern Africa.
Together, we are not simply selling policies; we are building a healthcare access model that promotes financial protection, preventive wellness, and equitable healthcare mobility across the continent.
Andy O’Cain, Global Head of Distribution at AXA Global Healthcare, put it this way: “Our goal is to become the leading player in Africa’s International Private Medical Insurance market.” With this partnership, that vision is no longer aspirational; it’s unfolding.
Conclusion
The launch of the GEHP IPMI Plan by Executive Healthcare Solutions, AXA Global Healthcare, and Old Mutual signals a profound shift in Africa’s healthcare landscape. It unites the reliability of global insurance with the intimacy of local service, empowering individuals and organisations to access quality medical care wherever they are.
For Africa’s businesses, families, and high-net-worth individuals, it represents a promise: care without borders, trust without compromise, and access without limitation.
The future of healthcare in Africa has arrived, and it carries three names: EHS, AXA, and Old Mutual.
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