The government’s expenditure towards Covid-19 response efforts in the health and social sectors has risen to MVR 1,271.5 billion.

Statistics publicized by the Ministry of Finance on the Covid-19 weekly expense on Monday reveal that this is a 1.3 percent decline from the previous week. The decline was recorded due to a plunge in the consumed budget of the Ministry of Health, due to the cancellation of a purchase order priced at MVR 20.2 million.

The figures stood at MVR 1,271.5 billion by October 8.

During the review period, 46.6 percent of total health and social spending was committed-spending, revealed the ministry.

The past week saw a significant contribution from the National Disaster Management Authority, in comparison to other top contributing frontline agencies in terms of week-on-week spending.

Most of NDMA’s expenses were covered for the allowanced paid to employees.

Other expenses include those of NSPA in support of medical treatment both local and abroad.

NDMA has spent a total of MVR 864.1 million out of which 362.8 million was to acquire supplies and requisites for service provision, MVR 112.5 million for capital equipment as well as MVR 105.4 million for operational services.

Since the Covid-19 recovery efforts began, the health ministry has spent a total of MVR 181.2 million out of which a majority was spent to procure supplies and requisites for service provision, approximately MVR 68.9 million. Other areas include capital equipment for which the ministry spent MVR 78.1 million by October 8. MVR 20.9 million was spent on operational services as well.

Having contributed MVR 74.2 million in Covid-19 health and social efforts, Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) spent 64 million on procuring supplies and requisites for service provision, 4.3 million for capital equipment as well as 3.5 million for supplies and requisites and 1.9 million for operation services.

MVR 24 million out of the MVR 40.7 million covered by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) was for employee allowances, MVR 13.6 million was also spent on supplies and requisites. Maldives Police Service (MPS) spent MVR 23.2 million out of which MVR 20.5 million was for employee allowances.

Further, the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure spent a total of MVR 37.3 million out of which MVR 36.9 million was for land and buildings.

The Ministry of Tourism spent a total of MVR 28.9 million out of which 10.3 million was for operational services, 7.3 million for procuring supplies and requisites for service provision, 4.8 million for repairs and maintenance as well as 3.1 million for travels. These funds were retracted from the ministry’s Tourism Activities Implementation Fund.

The government spent a total of MVR 506.2 million in supplies and requisites to provide services, MVR 198.2 million in capital equipment as well as MVR 139.3 million for operational services