Parliament has passed a proposed resolution advocating for the inclusion of fertility issues within Aasandha, the country's universal healthcare scheme.
South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem submitted the resolution, stating that every Maldivian has the right to access high-quality healthcare for essential health services under the Healthcare Act. However, the current structure of healthcare services and Aasandha in the Maldives has limited access to fertility care.
The resolution calls for a national-level study on fertility issues and ensuring the availability of basic medicines used for fertility problems in the country. During the examination of the resolution by the Social Committee, representatives from the health ministry, gender ministry, Aasandha, National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), and members of the 311-member fertility support community were consulted.
In committee meetings, the health ministry highlighted that the fertility rate had decreased to 2.1 percent in 2017, leading to a stable population ratio from one generation to the next.
When the Social Committee examined the resolution, it met members of the health ministry, gender ministry, Aasandha and National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), as well as members of the 311 member fertility support community.
In the committee meetings, the health ministry said that since the fertility rate had come down to 2.1 percent in 2017, the population ratio has remained the same without increasing from one generation to the next.
The committee had proposed three major things to the resolution:
- The related ministry to conduct a national study to confirm whether the decreasing birth rate is connected to infertility.
- To change the Aasandha scheme so that fertility care can be provided under it.
- To ensure hospitals across the country can provide fertility care.
This resolution was passed with the approval of the 45 parliamentarians that had participated in the vote.
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