The government is preparing to unveil the date for the much-anticipated expansion of the Aasandha healthcare scheme to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand, according to Heena Waleed, CEO of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) and Spokesperson for the President’s Office.
The initiative was first announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in January this year. During the announcement, President Muizzu emphasized that Aasandha services should not be confined to a single country. He highlighted the need to extend the program to renowned international medical destinations, naming Thailand and the UAE as initial locations.
“We will broaden Aasandha services so that accommodation expenses when you travel there will also be covered. Our citizens, until our health services are improved, will be able to seek high-level medical care in destinations such as hospitals in Dubai and Bangkok,” President Muizzu stated earlier this year.
Speaking to the Parliament’s Social Affairs Committee today, Heena Waleed reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling this promise. She noted that consultations have been held with medical facilities in both countries to finalize arrangements. While an exact launch date is yet to be confirmed, Heena assured that further details would be shared soon.
This expansion aims to enhance healthcare access for Maldivians, particularly as domestic healthcare infrastructure continues to develop. The inclusion of accommodation expenses under Aasandha is seen as a significant step in easing the financial burden on citizens seeking advanced medical care abroad.
The announcement is expected to draw significant attention from citizens who rely on Aasandha for medical coverage, further reinforcing the government’s efforts to improve healthcare accessibility.
