Unlimited Aasandha healthcare to be begin on 1 January

Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has announced that the universal health care system Aasandha changed to unlimited coverage starting from 1 January 2014.

The change was a pledge by President Yameen during the presidential campaign.

The Vice President made the announcement during a function held at the National Art Gallery last night to announce the government’s 100-day road map for the health sector.

He said that the government plans to allow private businesses to provide Aasandha.

“I would like to advice the parties involved in the health sector. Please don’t limit Aasandha to a service solely provided by the government. As private parties take part, I would like to advice them to view this as a service and to make arrangements to make services easier for the public,” Vice President Jameel said.

“The primary health care system, programs that were started and were in their infancy, such as vaccination programs. They went on a decline. Changes brough to the entire health sector had triggered a decline for the sector as a whole. In reality, there are a lot of challenges for the health sector,” Dr Jameel said.

He stressed the health care sector must focus on streamlining itself to make its services more accessible and easier for the public attain. He also noted that it is crucial for health care facilities to reach all parts of the country and said that the government plans to further develop the hospitals in the north and south of the country.

“One reason this system has becomes so heavy is that the people in the atolls have to travel to Male’. Therefore, the current government will prioritize to further develop the hospitals in the north and south. By including it in next year’s budget, or by finding foreign aid, we will develop these two hospitals along with Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’ hospitals,” Dr Jameel said.

He said the government will work to establish a health care system that is reliable and accessible.