A national health wake-up call: Why wellness is the future of insurance

The life insurance industry is built on a promise to protect what matters most: human life and financial security. Yet, a recent statistic serves as a stark wake-up call, demanding that we expand our role from reactive protection to proactive prevention.

- BY MAHEN GUNARATHNA, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, UNION ASSURANCE

The finding that a staggering 76% of beneficiaries referred for HbA1C testing were diagnosed with diabetes under our 'Suwamaga' initiative reveals an alarming truth: Sri Lanka faces a silent, invisible epidemic of NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs).

This figure is not just data; it is a critical public health indicator, underscoring the urgency of sustained, national-level screening efforts. The primary barriers to early detection - cost and lack of awareness - allow conditions like diabetes, often referred to by medical professionals as the "mother of all diseases," to progress undetected until complications arise. It is our collective responsibility, uniting the public, private, and NGO sectors, to dismantle these barriers, making testing accessible, affordable, and convenient for every citizen. Proactive hubs, such as workplaces, can and should become frontlines for preventive care, ensuring education and awareness cascade to the grassroots level.

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