Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — All healthcare providers in the Kingdom have been asked to provide urgent treatment to all suspected cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday quoting a circular from the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance.

In its directive, the CCHI has asked healthcare providers as well as health insurance companies to provide immediate treatment to all suspected COVID-19 cases without waiting for approval from the insurance company concerned, adding that insurance firms must be notified about the case within 24 hours since receiving it, the report said.

“The suspected coronavirus cases must receive urgent care as per the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health, Yasser Al-Marik, the official spokesman of the Council, said.

“Due to the current circumstances, people having insurance policies can receive urgent treatment from healthcare providers even if their insurance policies do not cover that particular institution,” Al-Marik said. “The suspected cases could be either related to traveling or due to coming into contact with other confirmed COVID-19 cases, he added.

The move aims to support the efforts of government agencies to combat coronavirus, according to the spokesman. He urged all private healthcare providers to implement the approved preventive and precautionary measures for suspected cases.

Additionally, Al-Marik said that the insured can get responses to all their inquiries and receive feedback, suggestions and complaints through the following communication channels: customer care number 920001177, e-portal: www.cchi.gov.sa, e-mail: info@cchi.gov.sa, smart phone applications, or through the Council official Web pages cchi.ksa on social media channels.