Key NSPA services transferred under Aasandha management
Effective June 1, 2026, sixteen services previously provided under the National Social Protection Agency's (NSPA) medical welfare scheme have been officially transferred to Aasandha Company Ltd. According to the Ministry of Health, the public can obtain further information regarding these changes by contacting the hotlines 1400 or 1402.
The Aasandha office. The company has come under heavy public criticism following widespread complaints regarding the inadequacy of its services. | RaajjeMV
A significant portion of the services provided by the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has been transferred to the Aasandha Company.
The Ministry of Health has announced that services provided under the medical welfare scheme, previously managed by the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), have been transferred to Aasandha Company Ltd, effective June 1, 2026.
In this regard, the Ministry stated that 16 services have been transitioned.
That is,
- Procurement and distribution of medication for individuals living with Gaucher disease
- Provision of essential medications for cancer treatment.
- Assistance for individuals seeking medications required for ongoing treatment that are either unavailable in the Maldives or not included on the approved drug list.
- Financial assistance for the procurement of medications unavailable in the Maldives for ongoing treatments, as well as for essential general medicines.
- Additional tickets for those seeking medical treatment abroad under the Aasandha scheme
- Financial assistance for health issues faced by Maldivian students studying abroad.
- Financial assistance for medical tests and investigations not covered by public hospitals or Aasandha.
- Financial assistance provided for medical consumables and various assistive devices and machinery required for ongoing treatment.
- Provision of assistance (within established guidelines) for patients to return to the Maldives or their home islands, in cases where medical specialists have advised that no further treatment options are available or upon the successful completion of their medical care.
- Post-transplant follow-up care for thalassemia bone marrow recipients
- Assistance provided for difficulties encountered by individuals seeking medical treatment abroad at their own expense.
- Medical referrals for overseas treatment
- Procedures for changing hospitals and obtaining consent for medical treatment abroad
- Enhancing coverage under the Merana Scheme for registered Maldivians in the event of medical emergencies.
- If a doctor completing the medical form in an island is not a specialist in that particular field, patients are often advised to seek a second opinion. This process can lead to significant hardships for the patient. Furthermore, referrals are being rejected even when the required treatment is unavailable on the island, provided that the treatment is accessible within Male'.
- Under the welfare scheme, individuals sent abroad with a predetermined funding limit may request a formal review. Following a reassessment by the committee, the established limit may be increased or additional financial assistance may be provided.
The Ministry of Health has advised those seeking further information regarding this matter to contact 1400 or 1402. As several services previously managed by NSPA are transitioned to Aasandha, the national social health insurance provider has faced mounting public criticism over service delivery failures. Many citizens have expressed frustration, citing significant difficulties in obtaining medication and securing financial assistance for overseas medical treatment.
