Health Insurance Board to Expand First Service Points Nationwide from Shrawan
Kathmandu – The Health Insurance Board is set to expand its first service points to all local levels across the country, starting from Shrawan 1, to make health insurance services more accessible, efficient, and citizen-friendly.
A decision to this effect was made during the Board of Directors meeting held on Aahar 29 (July 13). The board has called on all local governments currently lacking a first service point to submit applications requesting the establishment of such facilities at their nearest government hospital.
Under the new arrangement, insured individuals will be able to access health insurance services from any authorised government hospital designated as a primary service point, regardless of their place of residence. This marks a significant shift from the earlier provision, which required policyholders to seek services only from a single, pre-designated first service point.
The reform comes in response to widespread complaints from the insured, who faced difficulty in accessing services when away from their designated centers. To address this, the Health Insurance Board has amended relevant clauses in the Health Insurance Act, 2074, and the Regulations, 2075, enabling the insured to receive care from any listed government hospital nationwide.
The Board stated that this nationwide expansion will simplify the process for citizens to receive timely treatment and improve service delivery at the local level. With this, the insured can now visit the most accessible and convenient hospital without bureaucratic hurdles tied to geographic location.
