IGMH eyewear shop costs government MVR 3.5 million per month

The government-run eyeglass shop at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) costs MVR 3.46 million a month to operate, Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said.

In a written response to a question from Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) of the MDP, the minister said the shop’s recurrent expenditure totals MVR 3,456,212.67 per annum.

The initial setup, including construction and equipment, cost around MVR 2.6 million.MP Mohamed had asked both about the costs of running the shop and the rationale behind its establishment.

Minister Nazim said that the government introduced the service to provide affordable prescription glasses, citing the high prices charged by private businesses.

“Aasandha covers MVR 1,000 every two years for those who wear prescription glasses, leaving many people to spend thousands more out of their own pockets,” he said.

When the service was launched, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said he would ensure it could not be exploited for profit.

"If the coverage goes up from MVR 1,000 to MVR 2,000, there will be no room for these practices. We will start this work at IGMH. We will start the eyewear business at IGMH,” he said on May 31.

The President added that while private eyewear businesses might be unhappy with the decision, it was crucial to end “the habit of businesses exploiting people from this country.”