NHIC Expands Seha Service Providers' Network

Doha, September 21 (QNA) - National Health Insurance Company (NHIC) has announced the expansion of the service providers' network of its NHI scheme (Seha). The provider network, currently includes 7 hospitals, 31 clinics, 49 specialised dental centers and 2 optical service providers. It is expected to include around 100 providers by the end of 2014. According to statistics released by the National Health Insurance Company (NHIC) which operates and manages Seha, as of 18 September 2014 there have been over 400,000 doctor's and hospital visits since the launch of the scheme in July 2013. The NHIC also announced the inclusion of physiotherapy clinics within Sehas provider network. Acting CEO of the NHIC, Dr. Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali, said: "The rate at which the use of Seha is growing is phenomenal. To have nearly 370,000 encounters with members in less than five months since Stage 2 was launched shows the extent to which the public has come to accept and rely upon Seha What is even more remarkable is that these hundreds of thousands of doctor's visits have all largely gone smoothly despite the significant change Seha brings to the way people access healthcare. We have had just 165 complaints so far, which represents a very small fraction, not even half a percent, of the total encounters and doctor's visits we've had so far." Of the 403,667 doctors and hospital visits under Seha, 34,990 occurred during Stage 1 while nearly 336,000 visits have taken place since the scheme was expanded to cover all Qatari nationals earlier this year in April. A further 32,679 visits to dentists have taken place since dental coverage was introduced at the end of June 2014, bringing the total number of visits under Seha Stage 2 to just under 369,000. "The inclusion of private providers under Seha has greatly eased the pressure on the over-burdened public health system, while at the same time giving the public more choice and more access points to receive health care services. When waiting times at certain providers prove tedious, members have the option to select from a large number of licensed providers who could provide the services they require. Our ultimate aim is to have every medical facility in Qatar be part of Seha's network. We are in discussions with providers across the country and I invite all those providers who have not yet done so to contact us to learn more about how to join the Seha network," Dr. Faleh said. He also emphasised the inclusion of physiotherapy coverage under the Seha schedule of benefits. He explained that, as with all other covered treatments, physiotherapy is coverage by Seha within the provider network. However, a referral from a physician within the provider network is required to access the treatment. The number of providers offering physiotherapy services, currently numbering three specialised clinics, is also expected to grow over the coming months. Seha's coverage includes both in-patient and out-patient services including preventative care, emergency treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, long-term care, radiology, ophthalmology, laboratory testing and prescription medicines as well as dental and optical services. (QNA)