Maldives Government to Provide Health Insurance for National Athletes and Officials Starting 2025

The Maldivian government has announced a significant new initiative to provide health insurance for national-level athletes and officials, set to begin in 2025. The decision, unveiled during a press conference hosted by the President’s Office, marks the first time that athletes and sports officials representing the country will receive such coverage.

Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu revealed that the government has allocated funds for this insurance program in the upcoming 2025 budget. He emphasized that the first phase of the initiative will focus on insuring athletes and officials from national teams, with plans to extend the coverage further in the near future. However, specific details regarding the program's scope and timeline were not disclosed.

In his statement, Minister Rafiu noted that despite past participation in numerous international competitions, prior administrations failed to provide any form of insurance coverage to national athletes. The previous Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government had similarly pledged to introduce an insurance program for sports injuries but did not implement it.

This new measure is seen as a major advancement in supporting the well-being and development of the country's sports sector, ensuring that national representatives receive essential medical care for sports-related injuries.