SCH discusses roadmap to implement National Health Insurance programme

The Supreme Council for Health (SCH) held its regular meeting at its headquarters at the Financial Harbour, under the chairmanship of its President, Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. Health Minister, Faeqa Al Saleh, heads of health entities and SCH’s members attended the meeting.

The SCH extended deepest congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, on the Kingdom’s celebrations of the glorious National Day and the anniversary of HM the King’s Accession to the Throne.

The council was informed about the latest developments of the National Health Insurance Programme (Sehati), including the main themes, namely: autonomy, primary health care and insurance for expatriates. In this regard, SCH’s Secretary-General, Ibrahim Ali Al Nawakhdha, presented a roadmap for the National Health Insurance Programme, including its main themes and time frames.

He also presented the panel with a report on the achievements of the consulting firms with which contracts had been signed as part of the Sehati scheme. The session also discussed the latest developments of the Health Information and Knowledge Management Agency (HIKMA).

In this context, chairman of the governance project and the HIKMA, Shaikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Khalifa highlighted the upcoming steps to establish HIKMA which aims to monitor and direct the healthcare industry in collaboration with the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) and the Social Health Insurance Fund Authority (SHIFA), along with the private health insurance companies.

The meeting also reviewed other topics on its agenda, and discussed a number of proposals pertaining to the NHRA. In this regard, NHRH’s CEO, Mariam Adhbi Al Jalahma, submitted a memorandum on the issues that fall within the terms of reference of the NHRA, namely the approval of disciplinary committees’ decisions and regulating the import of medical equipment.

The panel also discussed a resolution on the issuance of the regulations of the requirements and procedures for licensing and controlling government health institutions, and an edict regarding the investigation of medical errors and reporting of accidental and serious accidents in health institutions.

It also discussed a resolution to issue the regulations for registering medicines and pharmaceutical products and monitoring drug pricing, in addition to a proposal for the guidelines and requirements for simple plastic surgery.

The Supreme Council for Health also discussed the issuance of a resolution on the working rules of the boards of trustees of government health institutions and their tasks in supervising the self-management system of government institutions subject to the National Health Insurance Programme.