Payback of health insurance should be made simpler: Prime Minister

 Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has suggested making the payback system for health insurance simpler so as to enhance the effectiveness of the health insurance scheme and to make it more service-oriented.

Addressing the program organized to mark the Eighth Health Insurance Day today, the PM stressed on making the joint-payment system implemented by the Health Insurance Board service-friendly.

"Provisions as online registration of membership, system for making claim at the right time and technology-friendly insurance scheme are the challenge-targeted reformative plans," he said and expressed the government's all-time commitment towards rendering Health Insurance Programme meaningful and effective to fulfill the national aspiration of 'good governance, social justice and prosperity', providing the health services in an equitable manner through this Programme.

Stressing on the need of fulfilling the key responsibilities that the State and the service providing agencies have to discharge to enhance the attractiveness of the Programme, Prime Minister Dahal directed the bodies concerned to pay attention to topics like simplifying the process for the insurance policy-holders to access the services, maintaining the quality of service and rendering the service providing bodies further service-oriented, among others.

The Prime Minister emphasized on conducting an effective literacy campaign on the Health Insurance Programme, and on maintaining good governance and financial discipline.

Noting that the government has kept the Programme in high priority, he said all the health security plans would be operated through a one-door system. The PM hoped that important policy reforms like making the health insurance card mandatory for services and recommendations provided by the federal, provincial and local governments would help enhance the quantity and quality of the Programme.

The Head-of-Government reiterated that the Programme would be made attractive and effective by expanding the insurance amount and it can be developed as the 'national pride' programme. He made it clear that the government would reach to an appropriate conclusion on the basis of necessary study in view of the prospects of the Health Insurance Programme.

In line with the concept of a welfare State, the government initiated the Health Insurance Programme around the theme, 'Your Health, Our Resolve', from Kailali district on April 7, 2016. It is a State-prioritized participatory program.

According to the PM, the government is committed to making this Programme meaningful and effective by expanding its coverage.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal handed the insurance certificate to the senior citizens of the Budhanilkantha Municipality. From today, the Programme has been launched in all the 753 local government units.

Chairman of the Health Insurance Board, Dr Gunaraj Lohani said that the insurance coverage has been expanded.

National Planning Commission (NPC) member Prof Dr. Shivaraj Adhikari spoke on the various aspects of the health insurance program, its significance, need and reforms. He added that initiatives would be taken to make the program further simpler.

Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr Roshan Pokharel maintained that the medicines produced in Nepal would be further systematized and managed well, and the insurance policy made refined and practical.