Second Government Prescription Glasses Outlet Opens In Hulhumale’
The second government-operated prescription glasses outlet was opened on Wednesday at Hulhumale’ Hospital, offering free glasses under the Aasandha health insurance scheme.
The new outlet, named MCGH Opticals Hulhumale’, was inaugurated by the Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, Dr Abdullah Muthalib. It will be managed by the Male’ City Group of Hospitals (MCGH), which also operates the first outlet established at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) last month.
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“އެމް.ސީ.ޖީ.އެޗް އޮޕްޓިކަލްސް ހުޅުމާލެ” އައިނު ފިހާރަ ހުޅުމާލެ ހޮސްޕުޓަލްގައި ރަަސްމީކޮށް ހުޅުވައިދެއްވުން. މިރަސްމިއްޔާތު ޝަރަފްވެރިކޮއްދެއްވީ އިމާރާތްކުރުމާއި، ގެދޮރުވެރިކަމާއި ބިނާރާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާގެ ވަޒީރު ޑޮކްޓަރ ޢަބްދުﷲ މުއްޠަލިބް. @presidencymv @MoHmv pic.twitter.com/3NrKiLxlD8— Hulhumalé Hospital (@HMH_mv) August 27, 2025
According to MCGH, the Hulhumale’ outlet will provide the same services as the IGMH outlet, with the capacity to issue between 34 and 40 pairs of glasses daily. Lenses that cannot be produced locally will be sourced from abroad.
The opening of the new facility is expected to double the overall number of prescription glasses produced under the programme, easing access for residents of Hulhumale’, one of the country’s most densely populated areas. The outlet will operate during the same hours as the IGMH facility.
Demand for government prescription glasses has risen since the service was introduced under Aasandha. By early August, IGMH reported that 1,267 people had applied for glasses, while 131 pairs had already been distributed.
Prescription glasses were previously available only through the private sector in the Maldives, with high costs creating financial difficulties for many households. Under Aasandha, an initial allowance of MVR 1,000 for glasses was considered insufficient, leading to public complaints. In June 2025, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu increased the allotment to MVR 2,000 and directed MCGH to provide prescription glasses as part of the government’s efforts to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
