The government’s Covid-19 expenditure in response efforts in the health and social sectors have reached MVR 1,296.3 billion.

Statistics publicized by the Ministry of Finance on the Covid-19 weekly expense on Monday revealed that the government’s expenditure towards the health and social sectors sat at MVR 1,296.3 billion by October 22.

This is a 1.2 percent increase from the previous week and in the review period, 46.3 percent of total health and social spending was committed-spending.

The Ministry of Health registered a majority of expenses in the Covid-19 response efforts in the health and social sectors, within this period in terms of week-on-week spending.

During the period, the ministry spent approximately MVR 8.7 million on medical consumables and catering for individuals in Covid-19 facilities. Travel expenses of the ministry pertaining to Covid-19 health and social efforts were also comparatively higher than others.

In total, the ministry has contributed MVR 202.2 million in total, since the response efforts began. The ministry spent MVR 82.3 million on supplies and requisites for service provision and MVR 26.3 million on operational services as well as 78.2 million for capital equipment.

Having contributed MVR 863.9 million in Covid-19 health and social efforts, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) comes second, having spent 362.8 million for supplies and requisites for service provision, 112.5 million for capital equipment, 105.4 million for operational services as well as 63.8 million for supplies and requisites.

Overall, Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) spent MVR 76.3 million, out of which 65.4 million was to acquire supplies and requisites for service provision, 4.3 million for capital equipment, 4.2 million for supplies and requisites as well as 1.9 million for operational services. IGMH also contributed MVR 500,000 for repairs and maintenance.

MVR 24 million out of the MVR 41.2 million covered by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) was for employee allowances, MVR 14.1 million was also spent on supplies and requisites. Maldives Police Service (MPS) spent MVR 23.3 million out of which MVR 20.5 million was for employee allowances.

Further, the Ministry of Tourism spent a total of MVR 29.6 million from the ministry’s Tourism Activities Implementation Fund, out of which MVR 10.3 was for operational services, 7.3 million for supplies and requisites to provide services, 4.8 million for repairs and maintenance, 3.8 million for travel expenses as well as 1.6 million for capital equipment.

During the review period the National Social Protection Agency contributed MVR seven million for grants contributions and subsidies as well.

The government spent a total of MVR 521 million in supplies and requisites to provide services, MVR 198.2 million in capital equipment as well as MVR 144.7 million for operational services.