After threatening laboratories to stop cooperation with digital health platforms , now a text message has been sent to the founders of paraclinical services stating that online medical services such as visiting or buying medicine are not covered by insurance. The head of Tehran E-commerce Association believes that such a decision may cost a human life.
According to Iran digital economy annotation, digital health businesses face new hurdles from the Social Security Administration every day. After threatening laboratories to stop cooperation with health platforms, now a text message has been sent to the founders of paraclinical services stating that online medical services such as visiting or buying medicine are not covered by insurance. The head of Tehran E-commerce Association believes that such a decision may cost a human life.
Since yesterday, a letter has been sent to doctors and founders of paraclinical services with the content that from now on, online medical services will not be covered by social security insurance:
“Dear doctor/founder. It is respectfully informed that any electronic prescription services provided by companies providing diagnostic and therapeutic services through virtual space, including visits, paraclinics, pharmacies, etc., are not under the obligation of the social security organization and cannot be paid for.”
At first glance, such an action may only be detrimental to businesses in the field of digital health, but if we look at this story from other angles, the risks will become clearer. “Nima Ghazi”, the head of the Electronic Commerce Association, told “Shargh channle” that people are the main victims of these decisions:
“The heat of the air on the one hand and the air pollution in big cities on the other hand have made it difficult for patients, especially those with acute diseases, to leave their homes. Breathing is difficult. Online and offline medical services help these people, but with the termination of insurance coverage, they have to leave home for visits, tests and buying medicine. What if something happens to these people? When the social security organization does such a thing, it should pay attention to the fact that these things can cost a person’s life.”
He believes that although these kinds of obstacles damage businesses and can affect them severely, this loss is nothing compared to the damage that is done to people’s lives and psyche.
With a larger view of this story, it is clear that this decision will be detrimental to the social security organization. The judge said that when people’s access to medical services is facilitated through online platforms, the use of these services will expand. This will prevent many injuries and more acute diseases and lower treatment costs, which is in the interest of the social security organization. He continued. “Data usage laws have been passed in the country and online health businesses can define services to do a series of preventive tasks that help reduce treatment costs.”
“The action of the Social Security Organization towards digital health platforms is strange and illegal”
The head of the Electronic Commerce Association called the recent actions of the Social Security Organization illegal and strange and told “Shargh Channel”: “In these few years, various laws have been approved to support digital health businesses. The approval of the Council of Ministers in 2022 and last year’s votes of the “Board of Deregulation and Facilitation of Business Licenses” in favor of online platforms are among these protective measures.
According to him, in various laws and regulations, the issues of online visits, remote medical services, laboratories, etc. are mentioned: “It is strange that the representative of the social security organization was present in all these meetings and they are aware of these laws, but it is against the law.
It is interesting in its own way that such harmful decisions are taken in the last days of the 13th government and just when the ministers of the 14th government are in the process of receiving a vote of confidence from the parliament members. Referring to this issue, the judge requested that this case be dealt with from a legal and judicial point of view, why does an organization play with people’s health and mental health? If we saw such a similar work from online platforms, how would the managers of these businesses be treated?
In the end, it should be noted that until the preparation of this report, our follow-ups with the managers of the Social Security Organization were unsuccessful. This organization has also not yet responded to the letter and follow-up of the Electronic Commerce Development Center. Amin Kolahdoozan, the director of this center, in a conversation with Shargh Channel yesterday, considered the pressure against digital health activists illegal and promised to follow up. According to him, a meeting will be held next week with the presence of representatives of the Social Security Organization and managers of digital health businesses to resolve possible ambiguities and problems.
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