Bir Hospital has reduced the health insurance services previously available to patients. The hospital had been providing medications for chronic disease patients for up to three months through health insurance. However, this service has now been cut back, and medications will be provided for only one month at a time.
The change will take effect from 1 Falgun. The hospital notice stated, “From 1 Falgun, unless another arrangement is made, insured members will be provided medications for only one month at a time.”
According to the hospital director, Dr. Dilip Sharma, the reduction is due to long-standing non-payments from the Health Insurance Board. The hospital is reportedly owed over NRs 400 million for services already provided.
“Bir is a hospital for the poor, so shutting down completely would harm patients. We have reduced services slightly to manage financial obligations,” said Dr. Sharma. He added that the hospital’s biggest challenge is purchasing medicines.
“Without government funding, we have been unable to buy medicines or maintain equipment. Managing services has become extremely difficult,” he explained.
The health insurance program is currently facing a severe financial crisis. Due to prolonged non-payment for insured patients’ treatments, major hospitals have begun imposing limits or suspending health insurance services.
According to the board, over NRs 11 billion remains unpaid to listed health institutions up to the end of Ashad.
As a result, insured citizens risk losing access to essential services, and the health insurance program itself faces an increasing threat of collapse.
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