Insurance for the Chronically Ill on Poverty Registry to Begin from the Islamic New Year, Minister Announces
Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed spoke at the Zakat Fund opening ceremony on April 14, 2025, marking the launch of scholarships for higher education in Islamic fields. | Photo credit: Ministry of Islamic Affairs
The government will introduce insurance coverage for individuals on the poverty registry suffering from chronic illnesses, such as cancer, starting from the Islamic New Year, Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has announced.
Speaking at a press briefing, Minister Shaheem stated the initiative will be launched in collaboration with Allied Insurance and aims to provide crucial support for vulnerable individuals facing medical challenges. The insurance scheme will cover areas not included under the current Aasandha programme, including medical treatment, life-saving procedures conducted overseas, and the import of essential medications unavailable in the Maldives.
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Minister Shaheem also highlighted that the insurance effort is part of broader reforms under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration aimed at reinforcing the Zakat system. He noted the establishment of a dedicated institution for Zakat management and revealed that last year saw the highest ever collection of Zakat al-Mal in the Maldives.
The Minister stated that the Zakat Fund continues to play a vital role in meeting the basic needs of those on the poverty registry. In this context, MVR 5,000 has been distributed per person as Zakat al-Mal this year, representing a MVR 1,000 increase compared to the previous year.
