Parliament Committee Launches Broad Review to Reform State Health Insurance

The Public Accounts Committee of the People’s Majlis has initiated a comprehensive review in collaboration with relevant state institutions and healthcare providers to reform the Maldives’ overall health insurance framework, in response to a public petition seeking the revocation of lawmakers’ special medical insurance packages.

The decision arose after the Majlis Petitions Committee sought the Public Accounts Committee’s counsel regarding a petition calling for the cancellation of VIP health insurance benefits granted to parliamentarians that are unavailable to the general public. During committee deliberations, Hithadhoo Central MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq and other members noted that terminating special insurance solely for MPs would not offer an effective or sustainable solution to the wider systemic issue.

Committee members highlighted that existing statutory provisions and regulations currently afford specialized, premium insurance schemes to cabinet ministers, judges, members of independent institutions, as well as Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and police personnel. Lawmakers underscored that state spending on insurance covers for police and military personnel alone amounts to approximately MVR 200 million annually.

To address the growing fiscal burden and ensure equitable healthcare access across the country, the committee emphasized the urgency of overhauling the national health insurance architecture, including the universal Aasandha scheme, to curb unsustainable state expenditures while delivering fair medical benefits to all citizens.

The committee resolved to spearhead an extensive study in consultation with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, private health insurance providers, and major healthcare institutions such as Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), ADK Hospital, and Tree Top Hospital. The committee also passed a motion to formally notify the Petitions Committee of its ongoing comprehensive inquiry into the matter.