67 patients advised by super-specialist doctors to seek treatment abroad

67 out of 1,280 patients who recently consulted super-specialist doctors have been advised to seek treatment abroad.

Aasandha Office said that the patients will be reviewed before deciding if their treatment abroad will be covered by the Aasandha scheme.

16 super-specialist doctors visited islands across the country under phase 3 of this program. They include neurologists, cardiologists, ENT specialists, ophthalmologists, general physicians, and more; and have treated 246 patients in Haa Alifu Dhidhdhoo Hospital, 173 in Lhaviyani Atoll Hospital, 96 in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll Hospital, 482 in Meemu Atoll Hospital, 192 in Fuvahmulah Hospital, 59 in Hulhumalé Hospital, 17 in Dhamanaveshi, and 10 in Maldives Blood Service.

Earlier, Aasandha Office said that one of the major challenges faced by this program is the lack of medicines in the pharmacies in the islands, but this problem will be solved in collaboration with the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).

The super-specialist doctor program was launched by President Abdulla Yameen in April 2015.