Aasandha will be expanded to clinics but with price fixations: Tharig

Aasandha Company has said that Aasandha services will be expanded to private clinics and hospitals with certain price fixations.

Chairman of Aasandha Company Tharig Ali Luthfee said that private clinics can only provide Aasandha services if they agree to the prices determined by Aasandha Company, and that if a clinic’s prices are higher, the amount not covered by Aasandha can be charged from the customer.

“We have fixed reasonable rates. It is up to the private clinics to charge the amounts not covered by Aasandha to customers, which might affect their demand. Our scheme will cover up to the rates we fix,” Tharig said.

He said that no services currently being provided under Aasandha will be removed from the scheme.

“All services currently being provided, will be available. We do not plan to reduce any services just because they are private clinics,” Tharig said.

It is now possible for private clinics to register for Aasandha services. Tharig said that the private sector is positive about Aasandha.

“They were unhappy before because they were included in the scheme under different terms. There was no other problem. They are positive,” Tharig said.

He said that Aasandha services will be provided to clinics once the contracts are completed this month.

Sun has been informed that some clinics are dissatisfied with the price fixations.

A government official said that some clinics want Aasandha to cover all rates of the clinics without any fixations; however this is not a good policy for this service.

“They are given the premises at a low rent, and still they want our scheme to cover any price they offer. Social insurance can’t work that way, it’s not possible,” he said.

Finance Minister Abdullah Jihad had earlier stated that Aasandha services can only be provided to private parties by controlling prices, otherwise, the budget will not be sufficient.

Parliament’s financial committee has completed and sent sustainable policies for Aasandha scheme to the Parliament floor for their approval.

Aasandha scheme allows every citizen to obtain free healthcare up to Rf100,000 per year.