Major price hike on eye injection stirs Aasandha response

An alarming discrepancy in the pricing of a critical eye injection has drawn public attention, revealing what some allege to be severe exploitation of the Aasandha health insurance system by private importers. 

This issue was spotlighted on social media by Heena Waleed, CEO of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) and the spokesperson for the President’s Office, who highlighted a case involving the eye injection 'Lucentis.'

The core of the controversy lies in a charge billed by a Maldivian eye care service provider. Lucentis, an injection used for treating serious eye conditions, is reportedly available internationally for around $500 (MVR 7,710).

However, this same drug was billed to Aasandha at MVR 23,000—representing a significant profit margin of approximately MVR 14,000 per injection. The revelation has fueled a public outcry, with many questioning the lack of price regulation and transparency within the Aasandha system.

According to a screenshot shared by Heena Waleed, a concerned citizen explained that his mother, who has received Lucentis injections since 2011, no longer has access to the treatment under Aasandha coverage. This citizen claimed the injection is now only available at a price of MVR 24,000.

In her Facebook post, Heena stated that Aasandha and the NSPA began examining the pricing of certain medications, including Lucentis, after noticing unusually high charges from private healthcare providers.

“As part of the price revision, one of the most expensive drugs, ‘Lucentis Injection,’ was checked, and invoices revealed the drug was billed to Aasandha at a much higher price,” Heena clarified, noting that only ADK Hospital has a registration to import Lucentis in the Maldives.

She also noted that the eye care provider involved had neither registered with the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) to import medicines nor informed Aasandha or NSPA of its practices.

“This provider sold medicines on prescription without being registered for importing medicines. Yet, it billed the highest rates for this injection under the scheme,” she said, without naming the company.

Heena’s message touched on broader systemic issues, asserting that while private entities have benefitted financially, the public is left to suffer the consequences of a poorly regulated system. She pointed out that NSPA is currently implementing welfare assistance to those who need it, aiming to provide medicines at controlled prices while working to improve pricing structures.

“This case is just one example of various private entities using Aasandha for commercial gain. The people are paying the price for a system that has allowed these issues to fester, as one part of the system has operated without communication with the other,” she said, emphasizing that the government is committed to addressing these gaps.

In a move to counter similar issues, President Mohamed Muizzu recently announced his intention to curb prices on imported medications, noting that in some cases, markup rates ranged between 200% and 2,000%.