It was strange to read the news published in Kantipur titled '17.42 billion to be paid by the Health Insurance Board, only 3.70 billion in the account'.
Due to the failure of the insurance board to pay the arrears of the health insurance program, it has increased to nearly 17 and a half billion. 3 billion 700 million with the board, although about 11 billion 63 million was collected from the premier till 2079/80, more than 400 million has been spent during this period. As a result of this, the insurance board can be calculated easily.
In the insurance program that started almost 9 years ago, only 34 percent of the target population is insured and the number of renewals is decreasing every year. This number was 75 percent in 2077/78 and has dropped to 59 percent by 2080/81. One of the reasons for these problems is that the monitoring of the Health Insurance Board is limited to paper. Political interference in the board, poor management, lack of implementation of laws/rules etc. are contributing to the decline.
If we want to solve the problems of the health insurance program that started 9 years ago with the sacred aim of providing health services to the poor, senior citizens and insured patients, then the speedy appointment of the chairman and members of the insurance board, the provision of meeting of the board every two months, compulsory insurance for the families of foreign workers and government service employees, investigation and punishment of the corrupt employees of the insurance board should be done quickly.
It is necessary to start the action process by stopping the payment of those who make false claims, fill the required manpower immediately and expand the insurance program to primary hospitals. The problems of the insurance program will be solved if every government service provider organization has its own pharmacy and equipment including doctors, arrangements for permanent contract registration officers, refresher training/orientation for registered assistants, timely monitoring and prompt payment of claims.
– Gangaraj Aryal , Panini-8, Arghakhanchi
