Medical welfare services currently administered by the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) will be transferred to Aasandha Company Limited from June 1 to streamline access to medical assistance.

The services being transferred include assistance for medical treatment, referrals for treatment abroad, hospital transfers and consent procedures for overseas treatment, referral reviews, emergency patient services, emergency coverage under the Menaraa scheme, assistance for students facing medical expenses while studying abroad, additional travel assistance for patients undergoing treatment overseas, and support for patients requiring repatriation after specialists determine that no further treatment can be provided.

Aasandha will also assume responsibility for services related to medication, tests and medical equipment. These include the provision and delivery of medication for Gaucher disease patients, cancer treatment medication, assistance in obtaining medicines unavailable in the Maldives or not included in the approved drug list, financial assistance for medical supplies unavailable in the country, support for tests and investigations not covered by public hospitals or Aasandha, medical equipment, assistive devices and consumables, follow-up care for thalassaemia patients after bone marrow transplants, assistance for difficulties encountered following self-funded treatment abroad, and additional welfare assistance or increased limits approved following committee review.

The changes were introduced to address difficulties faced by members of the public when applying for medical assistance through different institutions. With the transfer, applications for the affected services will be processed through Aasandha.

Commenting on the change, Minister Health, Family and Social Welfare Geela Ali said the new arrangement would allow individuals to access various forms of medical assistance through a single application process. She added that the Government aims to provide healthcare-related support under one system to make services more accessible.

The minister noted that many applicants previously had to submit separate requests to both Aasandha and NSPA when seeking different forms of assistance. She said consolidating the services would allow information to be maintained in one place and help authorities better assess and provide the support required by individuals.

The Health Ministry stated that Aasandha will begin responding to requests for assistance under the transferred services from June 1. Information relating to the services will also be provided through Aasandha following the transition.