Kathmandu. Lumbini Provincial Hospital in Butwal is on the verge of closure after the Health Insurance Board (HIB) refused to provide reimbursement for the treatment for a long time.
Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. According to Dr Indra Dhakal, the hospital has written to the Health Insurance Board (HIB) informing it that the hospital is on the verge of shutting down its services under the insurance scheme.
The board has not yet paid Rs 24.71 crore out of the amount demanded by the hospital. The hospital has made a total claim of Rs 734.2 million under the insurance program, out of which the Insurance Board has approved reimbursement of only Rs 50.54 crore. Of this, only Rs 25.83 crore has been received so far.
Due to lack of cash resources, it is difficult to purchase essential medicines and equipment for the treatment of patients. The situation has been created that it is not possible to provide services and facilities to the health workers and administrative staff involved in the treatment.
The hospital receives 1,500 health services on a daily basis.
Although the attraction of the service seekers to the health insurance program is increasing, the service is on the verge of being affected due to the government’s failure to provide the grant on time.
