Health Insurance Board Directs Hospitals to Stop Forcing Insured Patients to Buy Medicines Outside

Kathmandu. The Health Insurance Board has directed all hospitals (health institutions) not to make insured patients purchase medicines outside after they come for treatment.

Board Spokesperson Bikesh Malla informed that a circular has been issued to all hospitals directing them not to make insured individuals purchase medicines and medical supplies from outside pharmacies. He stated that since some health institutions were found making insured persons purchase medicines outside for package treatments, a circular has been issued to all hospitals to stop such practices.

"We have received complaints that some hospitals are making insured persons purchase medicines outside after treating them," he said. "Therefore, we have issued a circular to the hospitals directing them not to make insured persons purchase medicines outside in that manner."

According to him, hospitals often make insured persons purchase medicines and medical supplies included in various packages of the insurance service with cash from the same hospital or outside pharmacies. Spokesperson Malla further stated that forcing patients to purchase medicines from outside pharmacies is against the Health Insurance Act 2075, Health Insurance Regulation 2075, and prevailing directives and procedures, and that action will be taken against such hospitals as per Clause (a) of Sub-rule (1) of Rule 18 of the Health Insurance Regulation 2075.

Under the Health Insurance Program, health service facilities up to NPR 100,000 are provided based on a contribution of NPR 3,500 for families up to five members. Furthermore, there is a provision where the contribution amount increases by NPR 700 per additional member, and the service facility increases by NPR 20,000 per additional member.