Aasandha Company Ltd has confirmed that MVR 339 million was disbursed to pharmacies in the Maldives in the first three months of 2025 as part of its national health insurance coverage.

The information, shared with MMTV, highlights the growing financial burden of the Aasandha scheme on the state budget. According to the company, Aasandha paid MVR 763.9 million to pharmacies in 2023 and MVR 899.1 million in 2024.

Since its launch, the Aasandha scheme has seen a steady increase in disbursements. Records show annual payments rising from MVR 95 million in 2012 to over MVR 846 million in 2021, reflecting the expansion of healthcare access and medication demand across the country.

The Government has announced measures to control rising health expenditures. One such initiative includes bulk procurement of essential medicines to reduce costs and stabilise retail prices. However, these price control measures have faced pushback from some suppliers, reportedly leading to shortages of key medications.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has pointed to private sector resistance as a cause for the scarcity of certain drugs while acknowledging the challenge, reiterating the Government’s intention to ensure public access to essential medicine without compromising affordability.