Maldives re-imposes compulsory medical checkup for expats

The government has decided to re-impose compulsory medical checkups for foreign citizens who enter the Maldives on long-term visas.

The decision was made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu following deliberations at a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

The key decisions made during the cabinet meeting were shared by Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the principal secretary to the president on public policy, in a press briefing on Monday morning.

Nazim said that hereafter, foreign citizens who enter Maldives on long-term visas will be required to have medical checkups done in medical institutions approved by the Health Ministry.

He said that foreign citizens who enter Maldives on work visa, dependent visa, resident visa, student visa, corporate visa and marriage visa will be required to get a medical checkup done upon arrival, and on a yearly basis.

“And at the same time, foreign citizens who entered the Maldives on the aforementioned visas who have not undergone a medical checkup in the Maldives over the last one year will be required to get one done within the next six months,” he said.

Nazim said that the cabinet also decided to make medical checkups compulsory under the regularization program run for undocumented workers.

It also decided to shorten the 30-day window given to undergo medical checkup upon entrance to the Maldives to 15 days.

“And foreign citizens on business visa, especially from endemic countries, will be required to undergo a medical checkup when applying for visa extension,” he said.

Nazim said the cabinet also discussed the recent detection of cases of filariasis - a disease which was eradicated from Maldives in 2016.

“It was decided yesterday to charge the Health Ministry with the responsibility to add additional tests to the medical checkup based on the circumstances at the time,” he said.

Maldives currently has a policy on medical screening on foreign citizens who enter the Maldives. However, the submission of medical report is required only if instructed by the Economic Ministry, or if foreign citizens wish to voluntarily do so.

Previously, foreign citizens who enter the Maldives on work permits were required to submit medical reports. They are only granted visas if they pass medical screening. But the practice was suspended as part of Covid-19 easements.

Following the detection of cases of filariasis cases on December 14, many have expressed concern over the failure to make medical screenings compulsory for expatriates.

Maldives has confirmed 32 cases of filariasis – 25 in Kulhudhuffushi City – and seven in the greater Male’ area.

So far, the cases have been restricted to the country’s migrant population.