Nazim: Govt prioritizes facilitating costly cancer care via Aasandha

Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, on Wednesday, remarked that the government places a high priority on ensuring the availability of high-priced medicines and tests for cancer patients via the state insurance scheme, Aasandha.

Speaking during an event held to commemorate World Cancer Day, Minister Nazim said majority of cancers are fully curable when identified early and treated in a timely manner, and noted that vaccination provides full immunity against certain types of cancer.

The Minister highlighted some efforts underway in the Maldives to tackle cancer, including improving the register of cancer patients, expanding cancer screening and commencing the provision of cancer treatment in islands.

“Apart from this, the government, under its policies, has placed a high priority on ensuring cancer patients have hassle-free access to high-priced medicines and tests via Aasandha and strengthening psychological support for patients and palliative care,” he said.

Minister Nazim said more than 1,900 cancer patients have been added to the register over the past eight years, highlighting a significant rise in cancer cases in the Maldives in line with global trends. He added that cancer accounts for 17 percent of deaths in the country.

Nevertheless, he stressed that cancer can be prevented through various measures, including avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking and drug use, maintaining a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.

Statistics shared by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show changes to number of new cancer cases in the Maldives between 2020 and 2025.

The number of new cancer cases registered stood at 137 in 2020. The number jumped to 208 cases in 2021 and then 244 in 2022 – the highest in the six years – before falling to 211 cases in 2023, 195 cases in 2024, and 111 in 2025.

The most common types of cancer in the Maldives includes breast cancer, lung cancer, blood cancer, thyroid cancer and prostate cancer.

Research shows that 40 percent of cancers are linked to unhealthy lifestyles choices such as smoking and other avoidable factors such as exposure to secondhand smoke, poor diet, areca nut chewing, lack of physical activity and excessive body weight.