Health insurance in a vicious cycle of malpractice and problems
Summary
Nepal's health insurance program faces challenges including unnecessary health check-ups, malpractices by private hospitals, inadequate manpower, and low renewal rates, hindering effective service delivery despite constitutional provisions for health rights.
Key Points
- Health insurance program in Nepal faces challenges including insured individuals undergoing unnecessary health check-ups, straining service providers.
- Malpractices such as false claims by some private hospitals and involvement of health workers have been reported, leading to stricter bill investigations.
- Only about 20 percent of Nepal's population is covered by health insurance, with low renewal rates and complaints regarding service deficiencies.
- Manpower shortages and regulatory limitations hamper the Health Insurance Board's ability to monitor and control malpractices effectively.
