NHIMA accredits 8 health care providers

EIGHT private health care providers have been accredited by National Health Insurances Management Scheme (NHIMA) to enhance access by NHIMA members to receive the benefits of insurance service under the National Health Insurance Management Scheme and that brings the total number to140 countrywide.

The accredited private healthcare includes pharmacies and diagnostic centres from Lusaka and Livingstone that are under National Health Insurance.

NHIMA director general James Kapesa however explained that, in an event that a NHIMA member is provided a valid prescription or a laboratory request that cannot be provided in any of the accredited facilities, the member would be able to present the prescription to the newly accredited private or diagnostic centre to access the benefit in a cashless manner. Mr Kapesa said the aim was that NHIMA focused on reducing the need for out of pocket payments and reduction in catastrophic health payments at the time of illness.

Mr Kapesa explained that the issuance of the accreditation agreement and accreditation certificates with private providers serves as reassurance to the citizens that HNIMA is doing and would continue to do everything within its powers to ensure that all its members had access to quality Health Care of their pre-existing condition from birth to death.

He disclosed that in September, NHIMA invited applications from private pharmacies and diagnostics centers to pally for accreditation as required by the National Health Insurance Act No 2 of 2018.