Aasandha scheme expands to UAE, Thailand
Previously, Aasandha services were available at certain hospitals in neighbouring India and Sri Lanka.
Aasandha national health insurance scheme in the Maldives began sending patients to the UAE and Thailand for medical treatment on Wednesday.
In January last year, President Mohamed Muizzu announced plans to extend the Aasandha scheme to hospitals in the UAE and Thailand. The services in both countries officially launched this week, according to an announcement by Aasandha.
A statement from Aasandha outlined the expansion details, confirming that one hospital in the UAE and two hospitals in Bangkok will now provide Aasandha services.
Priority will be given to patients who do not have a first-degree donor and require kidney transplants. The second priority will be for patients who have not made sufficient progress despite repeated treatments at hospitals in Sri Lanka, India, or the Maldives.
Aasandha officials also indicated that the service will be expanded to additional regions in the future.
Patients can submit applications through the Aasandha mobile app or the main portal. Referrals will be made under the existing referral system, and applications can also be submitted at the Vira counters or Aasandha front office counters.
When announcing the extension of the scheme in Dubai and Thailand, President Muizzu stated that the Aasandha scheme would cover medical treatment costs at hospitals as well as the cost of accommodation in these countries. He explained that until the domestic health system is strengthened, Maldivian patients would be referred to countries with well-established healthcare systems, naming Dubai and Thailand as examples.
Previously, Aasandha services were available at certain hospitals in neighbouring India and Sri Lanka, where accommodation expenses were among the highest costs for patients.
