Health Insurance programme explained

Manama, July31 (BNA): The National Health Insurance programme will officially take effect early next year (2019) in Bahrain. A meeting was held today, Tuesday, at the Wyndham Grand Manama hotel at Bahrain Bay to shed light on the scheme. Officials representing private hospitals and medical centres attended the event, which was organized by the Supreme Council for Health (SCH) and the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA). SCH President Lieutenant-General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa said that the law on health insurance 23 of 2018, which was ratified and issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, represented the gate to the National Health Programme. "Bahrain is now drawing up the national health insurance project, which would provide a comprehensive medical umbrella for citizens and residents", he said, adding that public and private sectors would be the purveyors of services. He said that private hospitals would also have the opportunity to treat residents, in addition to citizens who prefer to benefit from the optional package of health services. The SCH president said that the National Health programme (Sehati) aims essentially at building a viable patient-centered system which incorporates high sustainable quality standards, in line with Bahrain’s National Health Plan (2016-2025). SCH Secretary-General Ibrahim Al-Nawakhda shed light on main pillars of the National Health Insurance system, stressing the importance of the programme which will promote a competitive market between hospitals and insurance companies. NHRA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mariam Adhbi AlJalahma described the international accreditation of hospital and medical centres, as the cornerstone for the implementation of the National Health Insurance programme.