Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has said that the national health insurance scheme, ‘Aasandha’ is a major burden to the economy of the island nation and that it is not what the people want.

He said this while speaking at the ceremony held to officially inaugurate the Hulhumalé Hospital at a tertiary level with newly established services, on Saturday. Hulhumalé Hospital has been providing services since 2004.

Taking the podium at the event, Nazim said that the people want the health system to be the most beneficial to those who are most deserving.

Nazim said that even though a certain amount is allocated from the state budget for the health insurance system every year, it has not been sufficient in any year so far.

Further, the health minister noted that the budget passed by the People's Majlis has not been sufficient for it in any year, and because of having to keep adding funds to it every year, the entire system has become a big burden on the economy of the island nation. This, he said, is not what the people want.

Minister Nazim said that no administration has worked to reform the Aasandha system so far due to the potential increase in political burden. However, he said that the current administration has formulated and begun implementing a special plan to reduce waste in the Aasandha system.

Stressing that it is regrettable that there have been few political leaders who would question whether the system is being carried out in the most beneficial way for the Maldivian people, Nazim said that this was because of the loose policies that were in place before or because of the potential high political cost.

Highlighting that when examining each year's budget, it is evident that more spending is required than the allocated amount, Nazim said this means there are aspects of the system that require reform.

The proposed state budget for the upcoming year includes a health contribution to be paid by those who earn more than MVR 60,000 per month or are required to pay income tax, in order to strengthen the Aasandha system.

Further, the government has noted that Aasandha will be available in all cases where out-of-pocket payments are required, in order to address the dissatisfaction arising from not being able to use Aasandha before private insurance is exhausted.

In the 15 years since all Maldivian citizens have had access to the Aasandha system, no administration has done anything to make it difficult for citizens to receive Aasandha.