Petition submitted calling for parliamentary health insurance benefits to be extended to all citizens to reduce state expenditure

A petition has been submitted calling for the health insurance package currently provided to Members of Parliament to be extended to all Maldivian citizens as a measure to reduce overall state expenditure.

The petition was submitted by social media activist Midhuam Saud. It asserts that maintaining the current Aasandha scheme—which is viewed as detrimental to the state and its citizens when more beneficial alternatives exist—is neither reasonable nor justifiable. Furthermore, the petition emphasizes that the government has a legal obligation to manage health insurance schemes in a manner that minimizes state expenditure and losses while maximizing public benefit.

This petition follows remarks made during a parliamentary session on October 19 by Ibrahim Falah, the Member for Inguraidhoo and Parliamentary Group Leader of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC). During a debate on a petition signed by over 7,000 citizens calling for the abolition of high-end health insurance packages exclusive to lawmakers, Falah claimed that the current insurance scheme for Members of Parliament benefits the state, whereas the universal Aasandha coverage provided to the general public results in a financial loss.

Furthermore, MP Falah provided a detailed explanation on the Majlis floor, asserting that the health insurance currently provided to Members of Parliament is more cost-effective than the Aasandha scheme and offers significantly greater benefits to both the public and the state.

This means that for an annual premium of 24,000 Rufiyaa per Member of Parliament, any medical expenses incurred by a member—no matter how substantial—are not funded directly by the state budget. Conversely, under the current Aasandha system, medical expenses for myself and every other Maldivian citizen are drawn directly from the state budget. For instance, if a citizen is diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer, their treatment could cost upwards of six million Rufiyaa annually. Under the "unlimited" Aasandha scheme, whether the cost is six, seven, or ten million Rufiyaa, the entire amount is settled directly from the state budget. Therefore, we must evaluate which system poses a lesser financial burden on the state. When a Member of Parliament utilizes this private insurance package, it is actually more beneficial for the state and the public. This is because we do not have to draw from the state-funded Aasandha pool for medical expenses up to 1.35 million Rufiyaa per member annually.

Ibrahim Falah

Therefore, in line with the guidance provided by Member Falah, a petition has been submitted calling for the swift extension of the parliamentary health insurance package to all Maldivian citizens. The petition argues that this scheme—which covers approximately 19 countries across ASEAN, Europe, and the Middle East—is more cost-effective and beneficial than the current Aasandha scheme, and would significantly reduce the financial burden on both the state and the public.