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Aasandha suspends two clinics for overcharging customers

Aasandha Company Limited has suspended two clinics for billing customers under the national health insurance scheme for services they did not seek. Aasandha discovered the irregular billings after changes were brought to its services.

The national health insurance company has introduced a service to allow customers to receive phone notifications when they are billed under the health insurance scheme. The notification service was introduced as part of the efforts to expand its services and increase transparency.

Speaking to PSM News, the General Manager of Aasandha Aminath Zeeniya said 325 complaints were submitted within a month of introducing the notification service. She said 15% of the complaints were regarding customers being billed for services they did not acquire and that Aasandha is investigating these complaints as serious cases.

She said initial investigations have shown some clinics have been abusing the billing system and that two clinics have been suspended for overcharging customers. She added the company has also received complaints of customers being double-billed by requiring them to pay for services using cash while also being billed under Aasandha.

Meanwhile, Deputy Managing Director Ibrahim Rasheed said one pharmacy and seven clinics were suspended in 2021 and that the notification service has uncovered loopholes in the billing system. He said Aasandha has found that some pharmacies have billed customers for medicine they did not obtain.

Aasandha has urged customers to immediately submit complaints of any discrepancies related to the health insurance services.