In 1996 three committed and pioneering doctors joined forces to set up the first ever incorporated Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) in the country. Dr. Ladi Awosika, Dr. Ebun Sonaiya and Dr. Femi Ogunbekun had jointly, with other medical practitioners, also founded the Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) seven years earlier, to recognise medicine as a business. Their vision for the HMO was to provide patients with access to affordable, quality health care while creating a sustainable environment in which healthcare providers could deliver services.
With financial backing from Leadway Assurance Company, Total Health Trust was born and started operations in 1998. With no industry, no competitor and no regulator in existence, THT’s creation marked the genesis of the managed healthcare sector in Nigeria.
THT’s success as the leading HMO in Nigeria resulted in the company becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Holdings of South Africa, a Pan-African financial services provider. Liberty Holdings South Africa is a progressive South African Financial Services group with a comprehensive range of insurance, investments and financial services. The investment by Liberty has enabled THT to create a robust administrative and technology platform which enables the provision of seamless and efficient service to clients. It is part of the wealth business unit of the Standard Bank Group, the largest South African banking group by assets and earnings.
Liberty Holdings’ subsidiary – Liberty Health has grown to become a leading health insurance provider in Africa. Today it offers health insurance plans in 22 countries across the African continent and represents the Group’s interest in THT.
