In a landmark decision, the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs has approved the resolution to broaden the coverage of the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, to include treatments for pregnancy-related issues. This comes as a significant step towards improving the healthcare coverage of citizens and ensuring that their right to treatment is guaranteed.
Parliamentarian Meekail Ahmed Naseem submitted the resolution to address the lack of availability of essential medicines needed to treat issues during pregnancy in the Maldives. The Committee’s report also recommended conducting a survey to determine if infertility rates are affecting the decline in births and suggested amending insurance regulations to cover pregnancy treatments. The Committee also proposed the establishment of treatment facilities for pregnancy-related issues at government hospitals.
The decision is especially important as data from the Ministry of Health indicates a decline in the total fertility rate from 2.5 in 2009 to 2.1 in 2017, with 2.1% of women aged 15-49 identified as infertile. With this resolution, the government has shown its commitment to addressing these issues and making treatments for pregnancy-related problems more affordable than in neighboring countries.
This monumental decision marks a positive step forward for the Maldives in its efforts to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to its citizens. It reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring access to quality healthcare for all, especially in areas as crucial as maternal and reproductive health.
