Government extends Aasandha to include Maldivians living abroad

Government has extended the availability of Aasandha, the government’s universal health insurance scheme, to all Maldivians with resident visas, from any Aasandhan empanelled hospital abroad.

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik made the announcement Friday evening while attending a music show of Maldivian band Olympians, held at Sosun Villa, Colombo.

The President departed to Sri Lanka Friday evening, on an official visit.

This morning, President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted President Mohamed Waheed for a breakfast meeting at the President’s House. At the meeting, the presidents discussed the priority points that uphold bilateral relations between the two countries. President Waheed also briefed President Rajapaksa on the current political atmosphere in the Maldives, as well as preparations for the upcoming September presidential elections.

Following the meeting, President Waheed visited Maldivian patients at the Lanka Hospital. Speaking to the Sri Lankan media at the hospital, the President applauded the service quality at the hospital.

During the President’s visit, the CEO of the Lanka Hospital gave a presentation on the services available there.

Discussions with officials from the hospital were held on providing internship opportunities to Maldivian medical students. At the meeting, the officials agreed to look in to ways to solve the most urgent issues being faced by Maldivian patients. The officials also spoke on the possibility of specialist visits to Maldives to work at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.