Zakat fund to provide insurance cover for chronic illnesses
According to the Ministry, the insurance is intended to cover medical expenses not available through the government’s Aasandha health insurance scheme.
The Zakat Fund will introduce insurance coverage for individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced on Thursday.
The initiative will commence with the start of the new Hijri year and is being implemented in partnership with Allied Insurance.
According to the Ministry, the insurance is intended to cover medical expenses not available through the government’s Aasandha health insurance scheme. It is also expected to assist in securing life-saving treatment and medicines from overseas when required.
The Ministry stated that the government has established a dedicated agency to manage Zakat and is working to improve the overall system. Last year saw the highest recorded collection for Zakat-al-Mal (property zakat), according to official figures.
The Zakat Fund supports individuals listed in the national poor register with various forms of assistance. This includes annual cash distributions for basic needs and funds for medical care.
In the first four months of this year, more than MVR 3.5 million was spent from the Zakat Fund on medical treatment for individuals in financial need.
