Newly launched Dhamani platform to ease insurance claims
The recently inaugurated Dhamani platform marks a major leap forward in the digital transformation of Oman's healthcare and insurance sectors. Designed as a national digital information exchange, the platform facilitates seamless, real-time communication between healthcare providers and insurance payers.
Speaking exclusively to the Observer, Dr Hatim al Lawati, Digital Economy Consultant at the Financial Services Authority (FSA), emphasised that Dhamani is not a standalone system but a comprehensive infrastructure for streamlining claims processing.
'Previously, there was a lot of fluctuation and delay, some claims took up to two years to process,' Dr Al Lawati said. 'Today, with Dhamani, claims can be submitted immediately after treatment, and insurance companies are required to respond within 45 days. The process is faster, more transparent, and significantly reduces administrative hassle.'
He also noted that the platform's operational footprint is minimal. 'It is efficient enough to be managed with as few as three workstations,' he added. 'It greatly improves speed and ease for both patients and hospitals.'
Through integration with healthcare providers' Health Information Systems (HIS), Dhamani enables instant claim submission by hospitals, polyclinics, clinics, medical centres, and soon, independent pharmacies. Once a patient receives treatment, the system can automatically transmit the claim to Dhamani, which then delivers all relevant data, medical reports, attachments, approvals, diagnoses, costs, and bills, directly to insurance companies.
This digital workflow enables payers to act quickly, either approving, rejecting, returning the claim for clarification, or requesting missing information, within a short timeframe.
'Healthcare providers have up to 45 days to submit a claim after the patient receives treatment,' Dr Al Lawati explained. 'If the claim is returned by the insurer, it can be resubmitted within 30 days. Once accepted, the payer is obligated to process payment within another 45 days. This structured timeline ensures swift and smooth claims handling.'
Beyond efficiency, Dhamani plays a critical role in combating fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA), common challenges in health insurance systems.
'Fraud involves submitting false claims for treatments that never occurred. Abuse refers to intentionally over-treating patients, for example, prescribing unnecessary medications or requesting unrelated tests. Waste relates to redundant or repeated services, like duplicate lab tests within or across hospitals,' Dr Al Lawati said.
To reduce FWA, the platform implements several robust measures. 'First, we are standardising CPT codes, also known as medical protocols, so all providers use consistent procedures for specific illnesses. This allows regulators and insurers to quickly spot irregularities and potential abuse.'
'Second, all transactions on Dhamani are fully digital and transparent, allowing regulators to set automated rules to detect suspicious patterns. For example, if a medicine prescribed only for women is issued to a male patient, the system can flag it immediately.'
'Third, the FSA is deploying business intelligence (BI) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to analyse data, detect fraud, and manage risk. These technologies empower both payers and the regulator to monitor claims comprehensively and protect system integrity.'
In conclusion, Dr Al Lawati affirmed that Dhamani is not only enhancing the speed and transparency of insurance claims but is also serving as a critical infrastructure in safeguarding Oman's healthcare ecosystem from inefficiencies and malpractice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
15 hours ago
- Times of Oman
FSA issues statement on rising vehicle insurance prices
Muscat: The Financial Services Authority (FSA), has confirmed that it has not issued any approvals for any insurance company to raise vehicle insurance prices. The statement said, "Further to the statement issued by the Authority on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, regarding some insurance companies raising mandatory vehicle insurance premiums (third-party insurance), the Financial Services Authority, as the official regulatory and supervisory body of the insurance sector in the Sultanate of Oman, confirms that it has not issued any approvals for any insurance company to raise vehicle insurance premiums and that it will take firm legal action against any insurance company that does not comply with the prices announced and approved by the Authority." "For any inquiries or complaints regarding applicable vehicle insurance rates, please contact the Authority directly through official channels."
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Hong Kong seeks to broaden its economic relationship with Oman
MUSCAT, AUG 2 Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, is in pursuit of establishing a strong business and trade relationship with GCC countries, including the Sultanate of Oman. Speaking to the Observer recently, Simon Chan, Director-General at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai said, "My office, as the official representative of the Hong Kong government in GCC, has been working with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) and the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) to help businesses from both sides to coordinate on investment and project financing opportunities. The volume of merchandise trade between Hong Kong and the Sultanate of Oman is around US$200 million. "We see the Sultanate of Oman in parallel with the GCC, which has a common goal when it comes to economic development by promoting investment. Hong Kong is open to trade agreements with the GCC, as well as bilateral agreements individually with any of these six countries, including the Sultanate of Oman." He was recently in the country to visit government institutions and companies, and promote Hong Kong's trade relations with Oman. He also attended a ceremony where OIA's Future Fund Oman (FFO) and Hong Kong-based private equity firm Templewater formed a US$200 million energy transition fund to spur investment. The fund will invest in strategic sectors such as clean molecules, green data centres, energy storage, smart mobility, and renewable energy, including solar and wind. It will also focus on industrial innovation, energy efficiency, and scalable technologies tailored for Oman and regional markets. During the visit, Chan and his team were also in touch with the national logistics company, Asiad, which has forged special trading relationships with big Asian markets like China and India. "We can provide them easy access to the Asean market and even within China itself. Hong Kong's unique advantages under the 'one country, two systems' principle will certainly provide arrangements that could facilitate international companies based in Hong Kong to do business not only in Hong Kong, but also in various cities in China." The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is a regional grouping of 10 states in Southeast Asia to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is among the fastest-growing regions in the world, and also Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner. Omanis can benefit from investment in Hong Kong as it is a pro-business economy with regulations friendly and simple for both overseas companies and individuals. Hong Kong ranks as the world's freest economy by the Fraser Institute, and the world's third most competitive economy by Switzerland's IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. "We have a one-stop service free of charge for investors, including help in opening a bank account, setting up office premises, and registration for any government procedures. The stock market in Hong Kong is very transparent, and the common law system and the international arbitration institution, in case of any disputes for companies that are new to Hong Kong. It may be noted that the passport holders of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) can visit Oman visa-free for a stay of up to 14 days, a move that will help strengthen the tourism, cultural, and economic ties. Omani citizens do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong for a limited period, which is around 30 days, but travellers need to ensure their passport is valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay in Hong Kong. As merchandise trade between Hong Kong and GCC amounted to over US$19.86 billion in 2024, Hong Kong sees GCC as one of the important regions of the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to facilitate connectivity and unimpeded trade, promote people-to-people bonds, and advance financial integration and regional cooperation.
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
FSA denies motor insurance price hike rumours
FSA Refutes Rumours of Vehicle Insurance Hike Amid Contradictory Notices Muscat: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has dismissed social media rumours alleging a rise in the minimum prices of vehicle insurance by insurance companies in Oman. In an official statement, the Authority clarified that it has not approved any increase in minimum insurance tariffs and continues to monitor vehicle insurance pricing to ensure stability within safe and appropriate limits. The FSA emphasized its adherence to the principles of a free market, where insurance pricing is determined by supply and demand dynamics, company performance, and portfolio profitability. The statement noted that competition in the insurance sector is sufficient to regulate fair pricing and that any tariff changes by insurers must be justified and reported to the Authority in advance. The Authority urged all policyholders and members of the public to follow its official social media channels for accurate updates on the insurance sector. It reiterated its role as the regulatory and supervisory body for the non-banking financial sector in Oman. The FSA's statement follows the circulation of an 'official notice' that claimed the minimum third-party motor insurance premium had been amended to OMR 65, effective August 1, 2025. The notice, which cited a directive by the FSA in coordination with the Association of Insurance Companies, stated that the decision was based on an actuarial study of the motor insurance market. However, this notice contradicts the FSA's public denial of any approved price increase. the Authority maintains that no official approval has been granted for increasing the minimum insurance premium.
