As President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration unveils a record MVR 64.2 billion budget for 2026, it has come to light that while ministers’ medical insurance coverage has been doubled, the allocation for the national health insurance scheme for the public Aasandha, remains unchanged.

The decision comes at a time when ordinary citizens continue to struggle to access essential healthcare services, with the government imposing further restrictions on Aasandha benefits. Despite growing demand and rising medical costs, the allocation for Aasandha has been maintained at just MVR two billion for the upcoming year.

Given existing debts, it is expected that little of this amount will be available for new assistance. The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) and Aasandha currently owe more than MVR 1.15 billion to hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. Mounting debts have already led some foreign hospitals to suspend treatment under Aasandha, citing chronic payment delays.

While the public health insurance system faces financial strain, the government has chosen to expand the benefits enjoyed by senior officials. The 2026 budget allocates MVR 99 million for private medical insurance, which is a sharp rise from the MVR 55 million in 2025 and MVR 46 million in 2024. This budget line covers ministers, judges, parliament members and other high-ranking officials.

Under the revised provisions, ministers’ individual insurance coverage will rise from MVR 2.5 million to MVR 5.3 million next year, effectively doubling their entitlement at a time when public healthcare funding has been left stagnant.