KATHMANDU, June 1: The Health Insurance Board (HIB) has announced an advertisement to recruit 180 Medical Officers on a 90-day contract basis.
The HIB has not started the review of pending claims for nearly 11 months since last Ashad (mid-July). These Medical Officers will be assigned to review the pending claims.
Due to a shortage of manpower, the review process is delayed. As a result, even if funds are available, payments cannot be made without completing the reviews. The HIB still has over Rs 16 billion in unpaid claims.
In the budget speech on March 29, the government claimed to clear the outstanding payments to service providers. Accordingly, the HIB is increasing its workforce.
So far, more than 25 staff including medical officers, nurses, and pharmacists have been working on the review process at the HIB.
Recently, the Department of Health Services decided to send over 30 medical and nursing officers, who are currently on scholarships, to assist the HIB.
According to the HIB’s Information Officer, Bikesh Malla, applicants for the medical officer positions must have an MBBS degree. Selected candidates will receive benefits equivalent to the government’s 8th level pay scale. Eligible doctors are required to submit their applications within 7 days.