Aasandha Initially Denied Coverage, Now Says Surgery Must Be Done Abroad

An elderly resident of HDh. Kulhudhuffushi has shared a harrowing account with RaajjeTV regarding the immense challenges faced within the Maldives' healthcare system and the difficulties in securing Aasandha coverage. Suffering from severe joint deterioration that has left him immobile, he expressed deep distress over his inability to access necessary medical care. The man noted that his condition continues to worsen daily as he remains without adequate treatment.

The individual recounted spending over four months in Malé seeking medical treatment. This occurred in late 2023, around the time President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assumed office. During that period, his doctors advised that he required spinal surgery. However, when he applied for Aasandha coverage to undergo the procedure abroad, the request was denied. The national health insurance scheme justified the rejection by stating that the surgery could be performed locally within the Maldives.

An elderly resident of HDh. Kulhudhuffushi spoke with RaajjeTV. | raajjemv

In preparation for his surgery in the Maldives, doctors instructed him to discontinue all his current medications 48 hours prior to the procedure. However, by the time he was taken into the operating theater, his blood pressure had spiked to dangerously high levels as a result of stopping the medication.

He criticized the systemic negligence, stating that doctors should have known that withholding his medication would lead to a spike in blood pressure. Ultimately, the high blood pressure prevented the surgery from proceeding. After enduring four months of hardship in Malé, he was forced to return to his home island without receiving any treatment.

Ultimately, the surgery could not be performed. After spending four months abroad, I had to return without receiving any treatment, and I was left at a loss as to how to proceed. Aasandha coverage was denied on the grounds that the procedure is available in the Maldives; however, local doctors refused to operate, citing complications due to high blood pressure.

An elderly resident of HDh. Kulhudhuffushi spoke with RaajjeTV.

Furthermore, he has faced significant challenges in obtaining essential long-term medications. He noted that blood pressure medication is often unavailable at local pharmacies, frequently forcing him to source it from abroad. He also expressed deep concern over the skyrocketing cost of goods, stating that the rising cost of living has made it nearly impossible to make ends meet, turning his daily life into a constant struggle.