Iraq expands health insurance to cover surgery and radiology

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Health has expanded the national health insurance scheme to cover surgical operations and radiology services. Health Insurance Fund Director-General Ahmed Ali Obeid said in a statement published in the official gazette that the fund will cover 90 percent of surgeries and 75 percent of radiology services performed on insured patients in private wards of state hospitals. Obeid said the aim of the new coverage is to ease the financial burden on patients and to reinforce social equity and solidarity. The ministry also wants to raise the quality of healthcare provided to insured patients in both the public and private sectors and to encourage private-sector investment in healthcare. The Health Insurance Fund chief added that services delivered in private wards of state hospitals and the implementation of insurance rules will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. The use of the health insurance card during surgical and consultation procedures will also be tracked, he said.