CCHI Magazine

We have a say

The main goal of the Cooperative Health Insurance Council is an integrated health insurance system in which all parties consistently take into account the interests of the insured. This vision is shared by the government which has approved the application of the current health insurance system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In line with this vision, the cover story in this issue discusses the training program carried out by the Council for Australian Medical Coding on the system ICD-10-AM. This is a first step in creating an electronic link between the two sides of the insurance process: health-care providers and insurance companies. The Council organized eight sessions in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Medinah for around 500 workers.

In this context, the Hot Topic section highlights the Council’s resolution for mandatory health insurance for the families of non-Saudi private-sector workers. The renewal of residency has been linked to the provision of health insurance for all dependents of foreign workers and the decision clearly requires the employer to bear the insurance costs.

Because the stability and success of insurance companies are amongst our top priorities, and because investors and traders are interested in the financial market, the Finance and Investment section discusses the market speculation on the shares of insurance companies still struggling with losses. Experts in finance and investment offer their advice. There is also a report on the overall financial performance in 2014 of insurance companies, to paint a clear picture for readers and to assist them in making the right investment options.

Health is our main priority, and this is why the World of Technology section focuses on the latest developments in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer, and whether we are getting closer to conquering this disease.

Many of these concerns and more were at the heart of our interview with Khaled Al-Salim, a member of the Health Insurance Council and a representative of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. We discussed the relationship between the two councils, and the role of the private health sector in the promotion of health services in the Kingdom.

We also take a look at a health insurance company, the Gulf General Cooperative Insurance Company, which was founded in 2009 and is based in Jeddah.

The magazine also covers many other diverse topics. The Tourism and Travel section takes you on a journey to the most beautiful tourist sites in the Tabuk Region with its majestic beaches overlooking islands and rich marine environment of coral reefs.

This issue also provides the reader with the latest insurance news, as well as an overview of insurance in Poland. It finishes with an amusing break and a final word to tell you that we will meet again soon with God’s will.