RIYADH: A row has erupted between hospitals and health insurance companies over poor medical services to insurance clients and delays in settling hospital bills, Al-Eqtisadiah daily reported on Sunday.
They also lamented the absence of an effective body to settle disputes between the two parties in a meeting organized by the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday. Only four of the 25 health insurance companies attended while hundreds of hospital representatives were present.
Hospital sector representatives complained about the insufficient number of medical insurance companies and their negligence in paying medical bills. As well as blaming hospitals for providing clients with poor service, insurance companies expressed concerns at their inability to offer coverage to more people. They already have 7.6 million clients in the country.
A hospital director accused insurance companies of caring only for profit and not of their duties toward their customers. “The insurance companies selected medical centers with limited facilities because their services were less expensive compared to large hospitals. Advanced laboratories and specializations at bigger hospitals means larger payment by insurance companies on behalf of their customers. It meant less profit,” the manager said. On the other hand Abdullah Al-Sharif, secretary-general of CCHI was concerned about the public getting good health services.
