Hamad to issue new smart health cards
Progress :o)
Original article from Gulf Times
HAMAD Medical Corporation (HMC) plans to issue new smart health cards, equipped with the E-purse, from October.
The E-purse would allow electronic payment for medical and medical related services, sources said.
The new smart health cards are to be introduced in a phased manner with fresh applications and those for renewal of existing cards.
Cardholders could deposit funds into the E-purse at the smart health card issuing points at Hamad General Hospital's outpatient department, the health card office at Rumailah Hospital compound, and Khalifah, Airport, and Wafideen primary healthcare centres.
The current coupon-based payment for medications would be gradually phased out at healthcare centres and payments accepted only through the 'E-Purse' of smart health cards.
The monetary credit on a smart health card could be transferred from an expired card to the new one and from the card of an individual to that of another provided that the credit owner is present when the transfer transaction takes place.
It is also proposed to link the validity of the smart health card to that of the residence permit of the individual concerned. The chip on the smart health card would also hold personal information about the holder from the HMC database and health data from the patient medical file, sources added.
Health cards now last for a year but once you get it you can renew it online at the e gov site. If as the article says their validity will be connected to the residence permit's then that's good news.
You're right novita about the pediatric emergency center at al Sadd. Excellent care.
I've also found that's the case for the surgery you know about at Rumailah.
how long the validity of the card i wonder? I very seldom using my health card. Always dreading going to Al Hamad for anything. All of the family members went to company clinic which is sufficient enough for us.
my experience with the health card was like 6 yrs ago when i tried to do check up for my pregnancy, and that was a horror.
Using the health card for my son in Al Saad paediatric emergency centre was good though. The doctor there are very helpful. And cost next to nothing too.