21 December 2022 16:35

The Agency calls on citizens to be informed of referral form

Under the Benefit Package of mandatory health insurance, 2,550 medical services are provided free of charge to citizens. These medical services are provided to citizens in state health facilities under the authority of TABIB.

Regardless of area of residence or registration, citizens can apply directly to any state health facility attached to TABIB for specialized outpatient medical services – though only for examination by doctor (for example, a cardiologist). Here, citizens are provided with the necessary medical services free of charge under mandatory health insurance.

However, in some cases, it may not be possible to provide the medical service that a citizen needs at the state medical facility (e.g., Family Health Center, polyclinic, hospital) for which he/she applies. In this case, the medical facility to which a citizen applied issues a referral form through which the citizen can receive the same service in a different state medical facility under TABIB. Let's clarify that with an example. Imagine that a citizen applies to a doctor-urologist at the Khatai Medical Center. After the examination, a surgical operation is recommended to the citizen after a diagnosis of kidney stones. However, since that operation is not performed in this medical center, the citizen is issued a referral form to the Clinical Medical Center where such service is provided.

It should be noted that state medical facilities currently require a referral form only for medical services provided in inpatient conditions (i.e., hospitalization). This referral form can be given by both a family doctor (i.e, a local physician) and a specialist doctor (e.g., a cardiologist).

If it is not possible to provide the necessary medical services to citizens in state health facilities under TABIB, referrals are issued to medical facilities contracted by the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance. For example, a citizen applies to an otorhinolaryngologist at the Khatai Medical Center. After the examination, a surgical operation is recommended to the citizen after a diagnosis of frontitis (inflammation on the forehead area). However, since this operation is not performed in that medical facility or in a different state medical facility under TABIB, the citizen is issued a referral form to one of the contracted medical facilities for the provision of needed medical services.

In the medical facilities contracted by the Agency, a referral form is required for both outpatient services – such as doctor's examinations, tests, and examinations using various devices – and inpatient medical services. In this case, the referral form is issued by a specialist doctor in a state medical facility.

The referral form is issued free of charge, and payment cannot be charged for issuing the referral form. In addition, a citizen may choose any of the suggested medical facilities. He/she benefits from mandatory health insurance at the health facility to which he/she was referred based on the referral form. Medicines and medical supplies used during the operation are also free of charge if they are included in the Benefit Package. The referral form is valid for 10 days.

It should be noted that, in instances of urgent and emergency medical assistance, a citizen is provided with immediate medical care in state medical facilities and in medical facilities contracted by the Agency. The contracted medical facility applies to the Agency to provide services to the citizen, and, if such service is included in the Benefit Package, it is covered by the mandatory health insurance. In this way, the citizen receives medical services free of charge.