Homeca: Social security pressure on digital health platforms continues

“Homeca” digital health platform announced by publishing a statement that despite the initial agreement with the Social Security Organization, one of the units of this organization has not stopped pressuring and threatening doctors and collaborating laboratories.

According to Ideaagency, In a statement published by Homeca, it is stated that despite many follow-ups and initial agreements with the Social Security Organization, some managers of this organization continue to threaten and pressure Homeca’s cooperating doctors and labs to terminate their cooperation with this platform for fictitious reasons and without providing written documentation.

Emphasizing the legality of its activity and providing high-quality services to users, Homeca has considered the actions of the Social Security Organization to be contrary to the country’s macro policies in support of the knowledge-based economy.

In a part of Homeca’s statement, it is stated: “In a situation where the macro policies of the country emphasize the support of the knowledge-based economy, how can an organization that is not in charge of legislation in the field of digital health, call a knowledge-based company illegal despite having all the existing licenses and Does it interfere with its activity?

This digital health platform added: “Homeca’s business process is transparent and clear. Our collaborating medical team records the necessary tests by receiving the patient’s history or by calling and texting him online, and then the laboratory ambassador performs the sampling by referring to the patient’s address and verifying the identity and checking the national card.

This sample is transferred to the laboratory based on health protocols and the test results are interpreted for the patient after being prepared by the doctor. The online nature of this process from the beginning to the end saves users’ time and money and makes their access to laboratory services easier. Now, if the social security organization does not like this process, how can it stop innovative business activity based on personal preferences?

In its statement, Homeca stated that he will take “all the necessary measures to support the doctors and laboratories of his colleagues and to improve the health of the people”, emphasizing that the Social Security Organization “must follow the principle of transparency in its reasons for the illegal cooperation of doctors.” and present the laboratories with Homeca in an official and documented manner and stop these threats behind the scenes.”

In Homeca’s statement, legal authorities and responsible institutions are asked to “recognize the right to use new and technological tools in the field of health.”

In the last days of August 2024, the Social Security Organization of Tehran province by sending a text message to the founders of the paraclinical service centers contracted with this organization announced that any electronic prescription services offered by digital health platforms, including visits, paraclinics, pharmacies, etc., are under the obligation of the Social Security Organization. It has not been and cannot be paid. This organization had threatened that the laboratories will face the risk of paying a fine of up to $20,000 if they continue to cooperate.

After sending this text message, the digital health commission of the country’s computer trade union organization, the Tehran e-commerce association and digital health activists protested it and demanded dialogue and interaction with the managers of the social security organization. The head of the country’s computer trade union organization and the head of Tehran’s e-commerce association had requested the intervention of this deputy in letters to Hossein Afshin, the president’s science and technology vice president.