The state had covered medical expenses for 1,100 cancer patients this year through its national health insurance scheme, Aasandha.

Aasandha’s Managing Director Hassan Ali said at a press conference on Wednesday that some of these patients include those who have been in treatment for longer periods and therefore were given repeated aid.

He further said that the state had also covered expenses for 3,776 patients in total this year. Most of them had been sent for ophthalmology-related treatments.

A great number of patients suffering from kidney diseases and urology-related illnesses had also been sent abroad for treatment, Hassan said.

Hassan said that Aasandha covered flight expenses mostly to Sri Lanka and India.