The government’s expenditure towards Covid-19 health and social response efforts saw a 0.4 percent increase between March 11 – 18 in comparison to the previous week.

Latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Finance reveal that the total Covid-19 expenditure related to the health and social sectors sat at MVR 1,541.2 million by, March 18 whereas the total economic response expenditure reached MVR 1,656.4 million by then.

The ministry revealed that an increase of 0.4 percent was observed during the review period, for health and social response expenditure.

Out of the total health and social efforts expenses, 41.2 percent was committed spending and the Ministry of Health was observed to have registered the highest spending in terms of week-on-week spending. As such the ministry made a contribution of MVR three million during the week, a majority of which was for employee allowances.

The ministry revealed that National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) also offered another notable expenditure of MVR 1.6 million within the review period, for grants, contributions and subsidies. Overall, NSPA has contributed 13.3 million as grants contributions and subsidies

Since the health and social recovery efforts kicked off, the second highest expenditure was registered by the Ministry of Health, which has spent 383.2 million out of which 211.8 million was for supplies and requisites for service provision.

The top contributor, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has registered a total of 867.9 million out of which 362.7 million was for supplies and requisites for service provision, 112.5 million for capital equipment, 114.1 million for operational services as well as 63.8 million for supplies and requisites.

Over the review period Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) also spent one million, having spent 96 million overall by March 18, out of which 76.4 million was for supplies and requisites for service provision.

Throughout the response efforts, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has spent a total of 31.1 million thus far. Out of the 67.5 million MNDF has spent so far on health and social response efforts since it began, 15.9 million was for supplies and requisites, 500,000 was for capital equipment, 48.5 million for employee wages as well as 2.7 million for repairs and maintenance.

MVR 37.3 million out of the total health and social expenses was from the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The Foreign Ministry also spent 6.8 million, and the Maldives Immigration, 900,000. Other contributors include the Ministry of Higher Education having spent 3.3 million, the Ministry of Tourism with 28.7 million in expenses and the Gender Ministry at 4.1 million in expenses.

Government institutions have thus far spent a total of 662 million for supplies and requisites to provide services, 201.2 million for capital equipment as well as 188.2 million for operational services.