The government’s expenditure towards Covid-19 response efforts has reached MVR four billion.

Latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Finance reveal that the government’s expenditure towards Covid-19 response efforts reached MVR four billion by October 21.

Between October 14 – 21 the total economic response expenditure was at MVR 1.8 billion, whereas expenses in the health and social efforts reached MVR 2.2 billion.

According to the ministry, the total expenses made towards health and social efforts in the reporting period was an increase of 0.2 percent in comparison to the previous week.

Out of the total health and social efforts expenses, 32.8 percent was committed spending and a majority of expenses were covered by Ministry of Health on operational services.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) registered the second highest spending, mainly on supplies and requisites for service provision.

Government institutions have thus far spent a total of MVR 1,135.7 million for supplies and requisites to provide services, MVR 208.4 million for operational services, MVR 165.6 million for grants, contributions and subsidies as well as MVR 102.2 million as supplies and requisites.

Out of the MVR 838.9 million the Ministry of Health has spent so far on health and social response efforts since it began, MVR 587.5 million was for supplies and requisites for service provision.

Since the health and social recovery efforts began, NDMA has registered a total of MVR 868.6 million.

IMGH has spent MVR 198.7 million so far on health and social response efforts since it began.

Throughout the response efforts, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has spent a total of MVR 31.7 million thus far, and the National Social Protection Agency has contributed MVR 54.2 million as grants contributions and subsidies.

MVR 40.9 million out of the total health and social expenses was from the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and MVR 67.6 million from the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).

Other contributors include the Ministry of Higher Education having spent MVR 3.3 million, the National Drug Agency having spent MVR 1.9 million, the Ministry of Tourism with MVR 29.2 in expenses, the Gender Ministry at MVR 4.6 million in expenses. The Foreign Ministry also spent MVR 6.8 million, with Maldives Immigration having spent MVR 900,000 and the Hulhumalé Hospital with MVR 4.5 million in expenses so far.