Himalayan Guardian Nepal (HGN) has launched Nepal's first device-based insurance service for foreign tourists.

With the rapid expansion of helicopter services in recent decades, insurance fraud and irregularities have increased, Himalayan Guardian Nepal has announced that it has launched a fully legal, transparent and responsible device-based insurance system for foreign tourists in collaboration with the Insurance Authority and the Nepal Telecommunications Authority.

Nepal is known as a leading adventure tourism destination worldwide. The contribution of Nepali guides and Sherpa community to keep the Everest region, Himalayan trekking, mountaineering and other exciting activities safe has been considered unparalleled for decades. But the artificially inflated rescue costs, unnecessary medical tests and miscoordination with trekking companies are tarnishing Nepal's reputation in the international media, said its operator Dr. Dhananjay Regmi.

Regmi said that the main reason for the difficulty in stopping this in Nepal is that insurance claims are often registered with foreign companies and the Nepal government does not have the right to check data or bills, which is why fraud is happening. "This has led to some companies stopping selling insurance for Nepal, while others have increased the total cost of tourists by charging high premiums. This has branded Nepal as an expensive and risky destination," said Ragmi. According to the company, the system has been underwritten by Prudential Insurance. The new system is said to make helicopter rescue and medical bill fraud impossible, control unnecessary treatments and tests, approve claims based on GPS-based real-time data, and automatically reject false claims.