Three Maldivian patients, that traveled to India under national health insurance scheme Aasandha, has passed away.

Aasandha said that the three were already in critical condition when they departed to India, and stressed that they were not being treated for Covid-19.

While three individuals that traveled to India have tested positive for the virus, Aasandha assured that the patients were isolated immediately after confirmation of this. It added that some individuals had to be quarantined separately.

Noting that this has led to a lack of space at Amira Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) in Cochin, Aasandha said that next group of patients will be sent to Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences of KIMS Hospital.

While India approved the first batch of Maldivians patients in June, they traveled to the neighboring national for advanced critical care not available in the island nation, in June 30. The second batch left in mid-July.

The permission being granted to Maldivian patients by Indian authorities is the first of its kind, with Indian High Commissioner Sunjay Sudhir saying that it was approved given that this was “a humanitarian request”.

A majority of Maldivians seek medical treatment in India every year, due to the lack of treatment options in the Maldives.

According to Aasandha, there are about 200 Maldivians in need of medical treatment abroad, including patients seeking treatment for cancer, heart diseases and various other conditions.