Audit reveals forged prescriptions used to obtain Aasandha medicines

An audit report has found that medicines valued at MVR 137,666 were obtained from the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, through forged prescriptions on multiple occasions.

The findings are included in a report released on Tuesday by the Audit Office, following an audit of the state health insurance scheme covering the period from 2019 to 2024.

According to the report, cases involving forged prescriptions were reported to Aasandha during the audit period. However, the Audit Office noted that adequate action was not taken in response to those reports.

The audit examined one case in detail. The report states that the individual involved did not reside in Malé, but repeatedly obtained medicines from pharmacies in the capital using forged prescriptions. The medicines were collected in the name of the individual’s father.

The case was reported to Aasandha on 20 February 2023 by a hospital in Malé. Despite this, pharmacies in Malé dispensed medicines worth MVR 112,586 between February 2023 and April 2024.

In addition, medicines valued at MVR 25,080 were issued by Addu Hospital in connection with the same case.