ACC Recommends Reforms for Aasandha Based on Applicants’ Financial Means

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has recommended that the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, introduce a system of coverage based on the financial capacity of applicants.

This suggestion comes in light of concerns raised in the Commission’s recent report, Corruption Risk Assessment of Health and Welfare System. The report identified several practices within Aasandha and the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) that could potentially lead to corruption and the exploitation of resources. To address these risks, the ACC has called for the development of guidelines aimed at improving the regulation of Aasandha services.

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In particular, the ACC urged relevant authorities to explore the possibility of transitioning Aasandha into a contributory or non-contributory service model, adjusted according to the financial means of beneficiaries. This approach, they believe, would ensure the long-term sustainability of the system.

Aasandha’s Managing Director, Aiminath Zeeniya, has previously echoed similar sentiments, stating that the continuity of the service could be secured by implementing a co-payment system.

According to Aasandha’s website, the first quarter of the year saw expenditures totalling MVR 838 million on medical treatments, with the second quarter’s spending at MVR 823 million. In the first six months of the year, Aasandha’s total spending reached MVR 1.6 billion, with prescription medications representing the largest expense.

In response to rising healthcare costs, the government has introduced the bulk purchase of European-quality medications, aiming to control costs while maintaining service quality.