Saudi Arabia's 151-member Shura Council or Consultative Assembly has called on the Insurance Authority to study the challenges faced by the elderly in obtaining adequate insurance coverage. The call was made during a recent regular session of the Council.
Dr Reema Al-Yahya, who raised the proposal, also urged the Authority to strengthen the protection of the rights of policyholders and healthcare providers and raise the level of transparency in approval and compensation procedures, according to local media reports.
Other Council members also called for extensive reviews and improvements in various branches of the insurance sector. Their recommendations included:
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Dr Abdullah Al-Waqdani advocated for a review of the policy for determining third-party liability vehicle insurance premiums, suggesting it be based on the driver's record rather than the vehicle model, with reduced premiums for those owning more than one vehicle.
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Mr Khalid Al-Buraik urged the Authority to study and review the regulatory and supervisory tools for the vehicle insurance market to enhance transparency and protect the rights of beneficiaries.
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In the medical field, Dr Hassan Al-Masloum called for coordination to establish a unified national registry for medical malpractice insurance claims.
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Dr Mufleh Al-Qahtani urged that measures be introduced to enhance fair pricing and competition, and that new products be designed, such as family and student health insurance.
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Dr Osama Aref urged the Authority to support increasing the number of companies qualified to provide insurance services for latent defects in buildings to speed up services and increase competitiveness. Such insurance is a requirement for obtaining a building compliance certificate.