Govt to restructure unlimited medical welfare schemes for security services personnel

The Maldivian administration has decided to restructure the current medical welfare schemes for members of the Maldives Police Service and the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) – which provides unlimited coverage for medical expenses for them and their family members - into a private insurance scheme.

In the 2025 budget book, the Finance Ministry said that the current medical welfare schemes can be manipulated for illicit benefit.

The Finance Ministry said that having access to Aasandha, private insurance and medical welfare schemes provides room for coverage for a single service more than once.

The Finance Ministry noted that the medical welfare schemes for security services personnel provides coverage for medical consumables and cosmetic procedures that aren’t usually covered under health insurance schemes.

“These factors have increased wastage, make it hard for the government to properly extend necessary support to the individuals who need it the most, and are in breach of the purpose of establishing social protection,” said the ministry.

The Finance Ministry expect spending on the medical welfare schemes outside the Aasandha scheme to rise to MVR 321.7 million this year.

The Finance Ministry said that the medical welfare schemes will be replaced with a private insurance package for security services personnel and their families.

But the Finance Ministry said that all medical expenses for injuries sustained in the line of duty will be covered by the state.

The administration plans on implementing this change early next year.