The budget allocated for the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, for this year has been exhausted in less than half of the year.
The government allocated MVR 730 million for the Aasandha scheme in this year's budget.
According to the Finance Ministry, MVR 795 million has been spent on Aasandha as of the 9th of this month. The government spent MVR 658 million for Aasandha during the same period last year.
Even last year, the budget allocated for the Aasandha scheme was exhausted before the year ended. By the end of last year, the state spent MVR 1.5 billion on Aasandha.
The relevant government agencies are in talks to change Aasandha and subsidy policies so that they are issued to those most in need. Aasandha has to spend a significant amount covering private clinic fees and medical treatment abroad.
