MVR 2mn to set up govt-run eyewear center; another MVR 3.46mn in recurrent expenses

It will require an estimated MVR 3.46 million each year to run the government’s opticianry service - MCGH Opticals, according to Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim.

The MCGH Opticals was opened on July 27, as part of new measures announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to improve access to high-quality eyewear for the public in a convenient and cost-effective manner. The center provides a variety of services, including eye prescription assessments, diagnosis of specific eye conditions, and dispensing prescription glasses.

North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu), a politician from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), filed a request with Nazim seeking an explanation on why the government decided to enter the opticianry sector instead of regulating it, and whether it had conducted any research on the potential implications of the decision. He also asked for details regarding the cost of establishing the center, and the annual operational expenses.

Nazim’s written response to these questions were read at the Parliament on Monday morning.

He wrote back that the service isn’t being provided by the government as a commercial service, but through the MVR 2,000 allowance for prescription glasses every two years under the public health insurance scheme, Aasandha.

Nazim said that it cost MVR 2.06 million to establish MCGH Opticals at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’ City, and that they estimate the annual recurrent expenditure to be MVR 3.46 million.

“The government identified that getting opticianry services from private businesses is a huge financial burden on the public,” he wrote.

“Given that the coverage by the national health insurance scheme Aasandha for prescription glasses is MVR 2,000 every two years, people have been paying thousands of Rufiyaa out of their own pockets.”

He did not respond to the question regarding whether the government had researched the potential implications of entering the opticianry sector on private businesses.

In August, the government opened a second outlet of MCGH Opticals at the Hulhumale’ Hospital.