Gov’t to Provide Full Aasandha Coverage for Mental Health Treatment Starting Next Year

The government has announced that all expenses related to mental health treatment will be fully covered under the Aasandha national health insurance scheme from 1 January 2026. 

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu made the announcement on Monday evening during an event held to mark the second anniversary of his administration.

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During the address, the President described mental illness as a significant national concern and noted that Aasandha had not previously provided full coverage for treatment. He said the new policy aims to address this gap and improve access to essential mental health services.

The government has recently taken several steps to strengthen mental health support. A dedicated mental health helpline was launched on 21 February 2024, and the Health Ministry reported that 5,364 people had used the service as of 22 April. A national strategy to reduce suicide linked to mental illness was also introduced on 2 October.

Aasandha first began limited coverage for mental health treatment in 2020 in response to increased demand during the COVID-19 lockdown. The new measure will be the first time full coverage is made available for all mental health-related expenses.