Govt assures Aasandha reforms ensuring benefits to most deserving

The Minister of Finance Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq said on Sunday afternoon that the government will be reforming the Aasandha scheme ensuring its benefits were extended to the most deserving individuals.

The minister said that the state would revise existing laws and regulations that facilitate unfair advantage to the rich and affluent citizens compared to low-income citizens.

At the press conference held by the government on Sunday afternoon, Dr. Shafeeq said the current laws enforce equal opportunities for the rich and poor, which he said enhanced unfair advantages to the upper-class citizens.

He emphasized that Aasandha, the state-initiated health insurance scheme, requires changes that ensures it is extended to the most deserving which would subsequently cut its wastage.

The government’s expenditure towards Aasandha scheme has been increasing year-on-year, with a 60% increase in the last five years. The expenditure to Aasandha rose to 40% last year compared to 2018.

Statistics further confirms that majority of the budgeted MVR 1.9 billion to the scheme this year, has already been expended.

Previously, Aasandha Company said that it will revise policies to prioritize private insurances.