Parliament rejects motion on NSPA’s negligence in disability support
During Tuesday's sitting, 44 members voted against the motion while 12 voted in favour.
Parliament on Tuesday rejected a motion that alleged the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) had failed to provide required financial support for therapy services for individuals with disabilities.
The motion was submitted by Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). He sought to draw the government's attention to what he described as a lack of adequate treatment and support provided by relevant authorities to persons with disabilities.
During Tuesday's sitting, 44 members voted against the motion while 12 voted in favour.
The motion stated that the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Financial Assistance Act outlines a legal framework to ensure special benefits and support for persons with disabilities. Mohamed Ibrahim argued that the NSPA and other agencies had not fulfilled the state’s obligations under the Act, including financial assistance and medical care for children with disabilities both within the Maldives and overseas.
The motion highlighted that although the government introduced free therapeutic services in 2019, it had not paid therapy fees for the past year. As a result, families of children with disabilities have reportedly had to bear the cost of such services.
Additional concerns raised in the motion included:
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Long queues and high costs at therapy centres
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Shortage of qualified therapists
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Children in need of therapy being denied essential services
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Unavailability of medication for conditions such as ADHD and autism in pharmacies in the Maldives
The motion stated that challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing health services had not been adequately addressed by the authorities. It also called on the government to ensure that individuals requiring special care receive the necessary support and services.
