Aasandha Portal Upgrade to Help Curb Rising Healthcare Costs
Aasandha Company has announced ongoing efforts to upgrade its portal as part of measures to curb excessive spending under the universal healthcare insurance scheme.
The Aasandha scheme provides comprehensive, uncapped healthcare coverage for all nationals. However, its open-ended structure has contributed to a significant rise in healthcare expenditure. According to official figures, the State now spends over USD 194.5 million annually on the scheme.
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Although the national budget allocates specific funds for Aasandha, this limit has been exceeded in recent years, necessitating additional government financing. The administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, in collaboration with Aasandha, is actively working to contain these escalating costs.
Mariyam Fiyaza, Manager of Aasandha’s Medical Investigation Section, explained that the upgraded portal aims to address inefficiencies and improve accountability.
She outlined measures targeting pharmacies. Under the upgraded system, pharmacies will be flagged if customers repeatedly purchase the same medications. In such cases, the pharmacy must provide justifications for the repeated dispensing.
Additionally, a new dispense code will be introduced to identify the recipient of medications. Pharmacies will no longer be allowed to dispense medication without this code, reducing misuse of the system.
Fiyaza highlighted the importance of individual responsibility in supporting cost-control measures. Patients should report irregularities, such as receiving transaction notifications without consulting a doctor or cancelled appointments that still generate transactions.
The portal will also send notifications to patients about cancelled transactions, ensuring greater transparency. Fiyaza further urged patients to bring medical records and test results to doctor consultations to avoid repeated tests and prescriptions.
The upgrades reflect a broader push to streamline healthcare services while maintaining the accessibility and inclusiveness of the Aasandha scheme.
