Medibank Health Solutions extends relationship with Gen-i

Media release

Medibank Health Solutions extends relationship with Gen-i to support growth strategy

Gen-i’s ICT platform and depth of capability enable Medibank Health Solutions’ growth ambitions in New Zealand.

Wellington, 3 October 2012 – Medibank Health Solutions, a leading provider of telephone and web-based health care services in Australia and New Zealand, has chosen to extend its partnership with Gen-i to support its growth ambitions in New Zealand over the next five years.

The company has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement with Gen-i, a division of Telecom New Zealand Limited, for the supply of a range of telecommunications and IT services including fixed voice, mobile, data access and data centre services.

This includes a five-year term for the provision of the core telecommunications infrastructure on which Medibank provides Healthline, the Ministry of Health’s national telephone triage and health service.

The new agreement continues to provide Medibank with the stable ICT platform it needs to continue to successfully provide the Healthline service, while also supporting its ambitions for growth in the New Zealand market.

Medibank plans to introduce a range of unique new offerings into the New Zealand market that leverage technology to deliver better healthcare outcomes in both in the private and public sector.

Medibank extended its relationship with Gen-i as it needed a trusted partner to deliver the ICT infrastructure that would support its growth strategy, says Medibank Health Solutions’ Technology Services Manager, Dave Buckmaster.

“This new agreement will deliver the technology platform that supports our ambitions for the New Zealand market and will enable us to implement new services at short notice to meet the needs of our clients,” says Mr Buckmaster.

“Our decision to extend our relationship with Gen-i was based on our confidence in the scale and scope of Gen-i’s capabilities and resources.”

As part of the existing agreement, Medibank has transferred its core services to a Gen-i data centre. With these services now hosted in a highly secure and resilient environment, Medibank has reduced its business risk, while enabling it to provide its own clients with robust service levels.

The agreement also includes Gen-i’s fibre-based premier managed IP networking service, Gen-i WAN Services (GWS), which enables organisations to run multiple applications cost effectively across a single access link, as well as a 24-month contract for mobile services.

Steve Mills, Gen-i’s General Manager for Corporate Clients, says the new agreement is a great endorsement of Medibank’s trust in Gen-i’s capability and service delivery excellence.

“Medibank and Gen-i have enjoyed a good relationship spanning seven years. Gen-i is dedicated to understanding the needs of Australasian businesses and we look forward to supporting Medibank as it grows its presence in the New Zealand market.”

-Ends-

About Medibank Health Solutions
Medibank Health Solutions offers innovative and cost-effective healthcare services to business and government. Drawing on more than 35 years’ experience, working in partnership with over 4,000 businesses and government organisations, Medibank Health Solutions helps Australians and New Zealanders to better manage their health.

Within New Zealand, Medibank Health Solutions (MHS) is the provider of the national health advice and triage service, Healthline, for the Ministry of Health. Healthline recently celebrated taking its 2.5 millionth call in 11 years. MHS also delivers Mental Health Line telephone triage services on behalf of six District Health Boards, servicing approximately half the population of the North Island. The service celebrated its 10th anniversary in May 2012. The organisation provides call centre and telephonic nurse triage expertise for the patient Access centre in the Midlands region. Recently, MHS was awarded a national contract with the Accident Compensation Corporation to provide personal support for injured clients through the ACC Homecare service.

About Gen-i
Gen-i is at the forefront of helping customers take advantage of the convergence of technology and telecommunications, and the new opportunities this makes possible. Gen-i works alongside its 2,700 corporate, government and business customers to deliver seamless hosted and integrated ICT solutions. A member of the Telecom New Zealand Group, Gen-i achieves this with the support of 2,500 highly skilled people in 19 locations across New Zealand and Australia. For more information on Gen-i, visit www.gen-i.co.nz

© Scoop Media