Colleagues share their Bupa stories | Tuesday,16 Feb 2010

The reality of life in Saudi Arabia is a world away from the perception I had of the Kingdom before I moved here from the Philippines a decade ago.

I joined Bupa Arabia in 1999, a year after the business was launched, in the operations
department and later became part of a threeman Provider Relations team. In 2010, we are
a 20-strong department with colleagues from around the world – including Saudi Arabia,
Lebanon, Philippines, Egypt and India – working together to build and maintain relationships with our network of provider hospitals and clinics across Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries to ensure the best possible quality of care for our customers.

I trained in nursing and also have experience in the fields of education and banking. I arrived from Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. It was a life-changing decision to move to a new country, but there was something powerful about the Bupa proposition of taking care of the lives in our hands.

There are, of course, cultural differences to adapt to, laws to respect and values to be observed. But it is a wonderful society in which to live and work, with plenty of scope for leisure pursuits such as desert camping and scuba diving. Jeddah is based on the Red Sea coast and there are some spectacular diving locations.

Few businesses are immune to the global recession, but here at Bupa Arabia we have
enjoyed a successful year and are determined to continue providing quality customer service
to our members over the next 12 months and beyond. Expatriates here are obliged to have
medical insurance as a legal condition when resident visas are issued and renewed. We are
working to ensure Bupa remains the kingdom’s largest private health insurer by being innovative and competitive.

Products and services we introduce are often imitated by our competitors so it is crucial we stay one step ahead of them and reinforce our reputation as the healthcare partner of choice for businesses and families.

Bupa’s caring culture applies to its people, as well as its customers, and our Jeddah office has won praise from the Saudi Government and professional bodies for its work environment, training programmes and focus on equality.

Reflecting on my time with Bupa, I remain as enthusiastic about the business, and what it
represents, as I was when I first arrived in Saudi Arabia. After spending more than a decade
here, I always feel like an expatriate whenever I return home to the Philippines.
This is my home.

Ivan Romeo Francis - Bupa Arabia Provider Relations Team Leader