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The National Health Insurance Scheme – Seha – has seen more than 605,000 visits to health services providers in the six months since the scheme was expanded to cover all Qatari nationals. |
The Seha provider network has grown to over 150 providers over the same period – well ahead of the target of 100 providers by the end of 2014 – offering Qatari nationals more choice and flexibility.
Seha saw just 242 complaints made over the course of the six months, 215 of which have been resolved with the remainder under investigation.
Stage 1 of the scheme was launched on 17 July 2013 providing health insurance coverage for Qatari national females aged 12 and above for a select set of maternity and women’s healthcare services. The scheme was expanded to cover all Qatari nationals for the full spectrum of basic healthcare services with the launch of Stage 2 on 30 April 2014. Dental coverage and physiotherapy was included in June.
“At the National Health Insurance Company (NHIC) we are here to serve the nation and to play our part in building a world class health sector in line with the National Health Strategy and the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“Our mission is to provide the people of Qatar with access to the best healthcare possible and to assure every member of the Qatari family that they need not worry should they fall ill, because Seha provides them with the flexibility and choice to seek the quality healthcare they need,” explained Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali, acting CEO NHIC.
NHIC has set up Seha information booths at key hospitals, including Al Ahli, Al Emadi, Doha Clinic, Hamad General, Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, Cuban Hospital and the Women’s Hospital. Over 16,000 inquiries by the public were made at the information booths in the six months since the launch of Stage 2 while more than 27,000 calls were made to the Seha call centre.
During the first year of Seha, a number of Disease Management Programmes were launched, like the Maternity Programme, which treated 34,990 Qatari women during Stage 1 of the scheme, and the Diabetes Management Programme, an added long-term benefit for Seha members.
Introduced in May 2014, the programme provides support and education to enable patients to live healthier lives and delay the onset of diabetes-related complications. The programme is open to adult Seha beneficiaries who have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
