On January 15, 2025, Aasandha officially announced the commencement of its coverage in both Thailand and the UAE
The Presidents Office
In a significant move towards enhancing accessible and affordable healthcare for Maldivians, the Government of the Maldives has taken a progressive step by introducing Aasandha coverage for medical procedures in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Towards the end of 2024, the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) began efforts to reform the healthcare sector, particularly focusing on improving Aasandha services to provide better care for citizens. These reforms include reducing the prices of 250 medications covered under the Aasandha scheme and introducing changes to prescription practices to ensure access to higher-quality medicines within the country.
Among these measures, the introduction of Aasandha coverage in Thailand and the UAE has been particularly anticipated by citizens. This decision was aimed at providing patients with access to advanced healthcare options that are not currently available in the Maldives. On January 15, 2025, Aasandha officially announced the commencement of its coverage in both Thailand and the UAE. With the arrival of 2025, Aasandha made a much-anticipated announcement on January 15, confirming the official commencement of Aasandha coverage in both Thailand and the UAE.
In a press release issued the same day, Aasandha Company Limited stated that the company had begun referring patients to medical facilities in these countries. At this initial stage, priority will be given to patients requiring kidney transplants who have been unable to secure a donor from a first-degree relative or have faced significant delays due to related issues.
Following this, priority will shift to patients who have previously sought treatment in the Maldives, India, or Sri Lanka but were unable to receive adequate medical care for their conditions in those countries.
These developments mark a transformative step forward in ensuring Maldivians have access to better healthcare, both locally and internationally. By expanding Aasandha coverage to Thailand and the UAE, the government is addressing long-standing gaps in advanced medical care while prioritizing those in urgent need of life-saving treatments.
