Health insurance program ineffective in Dang

The health insurance program started by the Government of Nepal has not been implemented effectively in Dang.

 The health insurance program implemented by the government has not been effective as the service delivery process has been cumbersome. The government has designated government hospitals for the benefit of the citizens who have health insurance. However, the program has not been effective as the service recipients do not go to government hospitals for health care but go to other private hospitals.

 Government hospitals are given special priority while insuring the service recipients. If they go to a private hospital for treatment for the first time, they will not be able to get treatment. Private hospitals recommend going to government hospitals. The client has to spend time in a hurry. Due to which the service recipients have to suffer.

The Health Insurance Board, on the other hand, has stated that there is a problem in understanding the general public. Gopilal Wali, district coordinator of the insurance program, said, "Even though the health insurance program has reached the district, the service recipients have been affected due to the cumbersome process." The health insurance program was started in Dang on January 12 last year. He informed that only about 20,000 people have taken insurance till 13 months after the start of the program.

 The Health Insurance Board, on the other hand, has stated that there is a problem in understanding the general public. Gopilal Wali, district coordinator of the insurance program, said, "Even though the health insurance program has reached the district, the service recipients have been affected due to the cumbersome process." The health insurance program was started in Dang on January 12 last year. He informed that only about 20,000 people have taken insurance till 13 months after the start of the program.

 Insurance registration support workers are working in 95 out of 100 wards of Dang. Insurance registration assistants are vacant in the remaining five wards for various reasons. The government has a program to provide insurance of Rs. 100,000 when a family of five pays Rs. Similarly, if there are more than six family members, each member will continue to deposit Rs 700 and the government will provide insurance of Rs 200,000, said Wali. Many people are still forced to hide their illness due to lack of money. He said that the program was brought so that the people would not have to lose their lives due to lack of money but the program could not be effective as the people did not understand its importance.

 The government has introduced a program to provide free insurance of up to Rs. Similarly, there is a program to provide 50 percent discount on the contribution amount to the families of women health volunteers. Health insurers in Dang say that the number of health insurers has not increased due to negligence in government health facilities. The Government of Nepal has started the health insurance program in accordance with the provision of free health services worth Rs. One lakh per annum from government hospitals with health insurance.

 The district has designated Rapti Health Sciences Academy Ghorahi, Pradeshik Hospital Tulsipur, Lamahi Hospital, Raksha Chaur Eye Hospital, Shrigaun Primary Health Center, Primary Health Center Suja and Bangalachuli Hospital for insurance service. The Health Insurance Board has stated that under the health insurance program, treatment for 1,033 types of medicines, all laboratories and ventilators will be provided free of cost to the sick people.