Aasandha to consider access difficulties when approving overseas treatment

The regulations governing the state health insurance scheme, Aasandha, have been amended to allow financial support for overseas medical treatment even in cases where the required service is available in the Maldives.

The revised regulations were published on Monday and introduce new criteria for approving treatment abroad under the Husnuvaa Aasandha Scheme.

Under the previous rules, Aasandha could sponsor treatment overseas only in two circumstances: when the required treatment was unavailable in the Maldives, or when the treatment was available locally but not covered under Aasandha’s agreement with a particular healthcare provider.

The amended regulation retains those provisions while adding a new category for overseas referrals.

Under the new rule, patients may be approved for treatment abroad if the service is available in the Maldives but factors such as the nature of the illness, the patient’s medical condition, difficulties in accessing the treatment locally, and other relevant circumstances justify overseas care.

The amendment expands the scope of cases that may qualify for financial assistance for medical travel.

The regulations also include changes to the list of services excluded from Aasandha coverage.

A provision excluding assistive devices for people with disabilities has been removed. The deleted clause had stated that such items were funded through a separate budget administered by the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).

The provision covered equipment such as hearing aids, wheelchairs and other assistive devices.

The regulatory changes come after a number of welfare-related services previously administered by NSPA were transferred to Aasandha.

In the past, NSPA provided financial assistance based on means-testing for patients travelling overseas for medical treatment and for residents of the atolls who required accommodation while receiving treatment in Malé.

The transfer of responsibilities follows longstanding public concerns regarding delays in processing assistance requests and arranging support for eligible patients.

The revised regulations are expected to provide Aasandha with greater flexibility when assessing applications for overseas treatment and related medical support.