Health insurance claims will now be processed faster

Nepal Health News, Kathmandu – In a bid to make the government health insurance system more efficient and effective, the government has decided to significantly increase temporary staffing. This decision comes in response to shortcomings observed in the implementation of the health insurance program operated under the social security initiative.

Based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Population, the Cabinet has approved 402 temporary positions for the Health Insurance Board. This includes 56 officer-level posts and 346 assistant and non-categorized staff.

Health Minister Pradeep Paudel had proposed the staffing increase, emphasizing the need to address the manpower shortage that has been causing delays in insurance claim evaluations. With the approval of this proposal, the Health Insurance Board will see a significant increase in staff for the first time in years.

Currently, only 122 staff members are working at the board, although the approved staffing level is 305. Last year, the Health Ministry had withdrawn 80 deputed staff, reducing the board’s operational capacity. Those personnel had been contributing to the registration and record-keeping of insured individuals.

Additionally, the government has decided to add manpower to various regional government hospitals. Temporary staffing positions approved include 129 for the Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital in Khajura, 141 for Geta Hospital in Dhangadhi, and 313 for Dadeldhura Hospital.

Health Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki expressed confidence that the decision will improve service delivery. According to him, temporary staffing is the immediate solution until a permanent organizational structure is finalized.

Executive Director of the Health Insurance Board, Dr. Raghuraj Kafle, also expressed optimism that the new manpower will accelerate the pending insurance claim evaluations. So far, the board has only evaluated claims up to the Nepali month of Shrawan (July/August), but he stated that the goal is to complete all processes within the current fiscal year.