Health Ministry proposes to impose a fee for Aasandha

Health Ministry has proposed to the Parliament Financial Committee to impose a copayment for Aasandha scheme.

Committee Chairperson and Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim said at the meeting held today that Health Ministry had proposed to proceed with Aasandha scheme by charging a copayment; but none of the members of the Committee were in favour of this idea.

The members agreed instead that the scheme should be controlled, and that steps should be taken to reduce costs. They also supported the idea of imposing a small charge for outpatient services.

Nazim said that the Committee is working to prevent ending Aasandha scheme, and to advise NSPA on how to proceed with the scheme sustainably - the idea is not to impose a fee on the public.

“Health Ministry suggested this when they were requested for their opinion on this matter. We don’t think this is the best way to proceed. This Committee will decide on how to advise NSPA. And we are not working to end Aasandha either,” the Chairperson said.

He said that under Aasandha, Rf 25 million has been spent on medical treatment abroad, Rf 48.8 million has been spent on medicine, and Rf 97 million has been spent on hospitals. According to the financial statements sent by NSPA, the budget of Rf 720 million will completely run out in August or September this year.

“The challenge is to obtain finance for two or three months. The budget is at such a state that it needs to be revised by the Parliament,” Nazim said.

He further said that the report on Aasandha can be sent to Parliament only after confirming that it is an insurance scheme which can be operated within the regulations relating to national health services.

Members of the Committee said, when Aasandha was close to coming to a stop, that the issue had to be resolved even if it meant they ‘lose sleep’.

Today’s Committee meeting was concluded by allowing more time to assess and complete the report.