Four cooperative health insurance companies have been banned from issuing new health insurance polices. The decision was taken by Dr. Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Mane', Minister of Health who is also Chairman of Cooperative Health Insurance Company. The banned companies were accused of violating cooperative health insurance laws by issuing fake insurance certificates to companies to enable them to renew Iqamas (resident permits) of their workers not covered with health insurance. Dr. Abdullah Bin Ibrahim Al-Shareef, Secretary General of Cooperative Health Insurance Council, said the violations were discovered when the companies registered the names of the workers on the council's network. He said these violations undermine the insurance system because it deprives the residents of their right of receiving free treatment by their companies. The decision won't affect the insured workers on the grounds that the insurance documents were issued before the banning decision, he said. Dr. Al-Shareef called upon the companies to strictly abide by the law and refrain from any malpractices that can easily be discovered by the council's inspectors who tour the insurance companies round the clock.
