State spent MVR 1.5m on patient that family claims was ‘forsaken’

Aasandha has rejected the claim that it cut off health insurance and forsook an elderly patient admitted to the Aster CMI Hospital in India’s Bangalore, adding that the state has provided over MVR 1.5 million in financial support for the patient.

The statement on Thursday comes after a Facebook user claimed that Aasandha cut insurance coverage for his mother mid-treatment, and forsook the family despite their desperate pleas. He shared bank account numbers and appealed for financial assistance.

According to Aasandha, the 65-year-old patient in question suffers from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain dysfunction that occurs when the brain experiences a decrease in oxygen or blood flow.

It said that the patient was evacuated from Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah to India on an air ambulance with assistance from the Zakat Fund.

It added that Aasandha, together with the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) and the Zakat Fund, has provided over MVR 1.5 million in financial support for the patient.

After the patient was taken to the Aster CMI Hospital, Aasandha received a request from the hospital on March 14 to admit the patient for extensive rehabilitation, which covers physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and swallowing therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Aasandha said that following a full evaluation of the patient’s condition, it had approved all interim bills sent by the hospital between March 14 and August 18.

When the patient’s condition failed to improve five months into the treatment, Aasandha said it spoke to the family on August 14 regarding transporting the patient back to the Maldives with ventilator support and continuing supportive care in the country.

“We explained to the family that there are alternative rehabilitation options available in the Maldives and that the Aasandha scheme does not cover long-term rehabilitation overseas, and we also spoke to the family about transporting the patient to the Maldives within three days with a plan for treatment options available from the Maldives,” said the company in its statement.

Aasandha said the final hospital bill as of August 18 amounted to USD 89,339.91. It said that it approved coverage for USD 85,989.15 after excluding charges that aren’t covered under the scheme.