President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that directives have been issued to relevant authorities to coordinate with banks to provide financial support for patients seeking medical treatment abroad. Under the new arrangement, patients traveling through the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) will be eligible to receive up to USD 2,000. Those funding their own medical travel will be entitled to up to USD 1,000.

The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on Maldivians seeking essential medical care overseas.

The president announced this via a post on social media platform ‘X’ on Monday, while on a tour of Noonu atoll.

In his recent post, the president announced new measures to streamline access to foreign currency for Maldivians seeking medical treatment abroad. Effective August 1, patients approved under NSPA will be eligible to obtain up to USD 2,000 from local banks. In addition to this, individuals funding their own medical travel will be able to access up to USD 1,000 through the same channels.

RaajjeMV understands that previously, the USD 2,000 made available through banks was limited to patients traveling abroad for medical treatment under the Aasandha healthcare assistance program.

The president’s decision comes amid a surge in the black market USD rate, which has recently climbed to MVR 20.20, the highest level recorded in the Maldives to date.