With some pharmacies reportedly applying markups of 100 percent or more, the government has had to bear these inflated costs. In response, NSPA has identified 250 of the most commonly used medications under Aasandha to target for price reductions.
otcmaldives
The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has announced a plan to reduce the prices of medications covered under the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, in the Maldives. In an announcement made on October 27, 2024, NSPA revealed that prices for 250 essential medications are set to decrease, addressing a significant aspect of healthcare affordability.
While Aasandha has been a valuable lifeline, making healthcare accessible and affordable for Maldivians, the scheme—particularly the ‘Husnuvaa Aasandha’ initiative—has encountered challenges. Although many have benefited from the scheme, Aasandha has proven costly for the government to sustain, with high medication prices being a major factor. With some pharmacies reportedly applying markups of 100 percent or more, the government has had to bear these inflated costs. In response, NSPA has identified 250 of the most commonly used medications under Aasandha to target for price reductions.
According to NSPA, this initiative is projected to save the Aasandha scheme approximately MVR 220 million annually.
The reduction in medication prices will be implemented in stages:
NSPA also emphasized that these price adjustments will not impact any of the services currently offered under Aasandha. To ensure compliance, NSPA urges citizens to report any discrepancies in pricing against the published list to the ‘Shikaavathi’ chat line at 7951400.
Through this initiative, the NSPA aims to alleviate financial strain on both the Aasandha scheme and Maldivian citizens, ensuring that essential medications are more accessible and affordable for everyone.
