Parliament Committee Moves Proceedings Behind Closed Doors After Media Misrepresentation Claims

The General Purpose Committee of the People’s Majlis has moved its meeting behind closed doors following allegations that journalists misrepresented discussions regarding the difficulties members face in accessing domestic and international medical treatment under their health insurance scheme.

The agenda for Monday's meeting of the Parliament's General Purpose Committee included a session with officials from Allied Insurance, the company currently providing health insurance coverage for Members of Parliament.

After announcing the agenda for the General Purpose Committee meeting, the Committee Chair and Member for Hulhudhoo constituency, Mohamed Shahid, stated that news reports regarding members' discussions on insurance during last Tuesday’s session were inaccurate. Shahid clarified that the members' remarks on that day actually focused on the challenges and delays encountered when seeking services, along with other related difficulties.

We informed them of the challenges regarding our insurance coverage, specifically concerning the terms under which the insurance provider had previously agreed to facilitate services for our members.

Mohamed Shahid

Furthermore, Ibrahim Didi, the Member for South Feydhoo, claimed that the media had misrepresented his previous remarks in the committee. He proposed that the session be closed to the press while that specific agenda item was being deliberated. This motion was seconded by Abdul Sattar Mohamed, the Member for Holhudhoo. The committee subsequently reached a unanimous decision among the members present to keep the proceedings of that agenda item confidential.

Following an hour-long session with officials from Allied Insurance, the committee meeting proceeded as an open session.