MANAMA: The expatriate insurance which is currently BD73 likely to increase 200% or BD215 a year once the new law on compulsory health insurance is implemented in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The new slab of BD215 a year is based on the estimates of the World Bank which is working with the Supreme Council of Health on the National Health Insurance Project.
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Supreme Council of Health in a media briefing said that the new rules and regulations are expected to be in place by mid of next year followed by the implementation of the new health insurance project or what is commonly known as the compulsory health insurance.
The briefing was also attended by HE Faeqa bint Saeed AlSaleh, Minister of Health, HE Dr Ayesha Mubarak Undersecretary of Ministry of Health and Ibrahim Ali General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Health.
“The National Health Insurance Project will be implemented in different phases over the period of three years,” said, Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa.
At Present the Kingdom of Bahrain is spending close BD463 million a year on health services and the Government is keen on streamlining the spending base of the budget through an act of the parliament on all spending including the health sector by sharing the burden with the private sector.
Under the World Bank plan the compulsory health insurance will be offered in different packages means both for low income and high income individuals for expatriate category.
Also for the Bahrainis the Government will continue to provide free health services and the expenses to be met from a proposed Health Fund to be created for this specific purpose. The free medial will not cover the cosmetic and nonessential treatments for the locals and for such category they have to avail form the private sector hospitals or clinics.
The Fund will be managed by a body which will comprise representation form all the concerned Ministries including the Ministry of Health and Finance.
