KATHMANDU: Individuals enrolled in the Health Insurance Board’s program can now access first aid treatment from 377 hospitals across the country.
Starting this July, insured patients can receive emergency care from hospitals designated as first aid points by the board, according to information officer Bikesh Malla.
Previously, insured individuals were required to seek first aid only from specific health institutions designated by the board. Now, that restriction has been lifted, allowing greater flexibility.
“For example, an insured person from Jhapa can now receive treatment from a listed hospital in Kanchanpur if it is designated as a first aid point,” said Malla. “After receiving treatment at the first aid point, the patient can then proceed to a referral hospital for further care.”
Currently, the board has approved 377 hospitals as first aid points and 98 health institutions as referral centers. These referral institutions include federal, specialist, and advanced hospitals as well as health institutes.
The health insurance program, which began in Kailali in 2072 BS, now covers 9.4 million people. It is primarily aimed at supporting citizens with poor financial conditions by providing access to affordable healthcare.
The board has also requested that each local level designate at least one health institution as a first aid service point. Malla has called on local governments to inform the board of any health institutions under their jurisdiction that should be included as first aid providers under the insurance scheme.
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