Insurance regulators in Oman and Saudi Arabia have issued enforcement actions targeting non-compliance within the health insurance sector.
The moves reflect an ongoing emphasis on regulatory adherence and risk management across regional markets.
Oman’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) has imposed a financial penalty on Vipul Better Care Management and Services LLC, a third-party administrator (TPA) licensed to manage health insurance claims.
The decision follows the company’s failure to comply with Article 17 of Oman’s health insurance claims administration regulations, issued under Decision No. 34/2020.
According to the FSA, the TPA did not meet minimum standards for safeguarding its electronic infrastructure or ensuring recovery of data in case of disruption or loss.
Article 17 requires all licensed TPAs to implement measures that secure electronic data from unauthorised access, maintain backup systems, and prepare contingency plans for technical outages or other emergencies to support operational continuity.
The FSA stated it would continue enforcing regulations to promote industry compliance and maintain trust in the insurance system.
As part of its regulatory agenda, the FSA also hosted a virtual workshop earlier this month on preparing risk assessment reports, in partnership with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Financial Studies.
Held April 6-8, the training focused on improving knowledge of anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) obligations.
Participants explored techniques to identify, evaluate, and communicate risks using sector standards and regulatory criteria. The sessions covered both qualitative and quantitative methods for risk analysis, along with best practices for structuring reports and engaging relevant stakeholders.
The training forms part of an ongoing initiative by the FSA’s AML and CTF unit to build awareness through educational programs and outreach efforts.
In Saudi Arabia, the Council of Health Insurance (CHI) recently announced that it has penalised several employers for failing to provide mandatory health insurance to employees and eligible family members.
The CHI cited violations of Article 14 of the country’s Health Insurance Law, which mandates employers to maintain valid insurance coverage and settle all required premiums.
Non-compliant firms may face financial penalties equivalent to a full annual premium for each affected individual. In some instances, they may also be barred from hiring new employees either temporarily or permanently.
