Aasandha services resume at Manipal Hospital after price reduction

Aasandha treatment services have resumed at Manipal Hospital in India following an agreement to reduce service charges, officials have confirmed.

Aasandha Managing Director Aminath Zeeniya told Mihaaru News that a revised agreement was signed with Manipal Hospital after negotiations to lower prices and ensure services are provided in line with Aasandha rates.

The hospital had suspended Aasandha-funded treatments from June 30 while discussions on price reductions were ongoing. Following several days of negotiations, services resumed after adjustments were made to the charges.

Earlier, NSPA CEO Heena Waleed, whose agency oversees Aasandha policy, said Manipal Hospital had received numerous complaints from patients alleging they were charged several times higher than the rates approved under Aasandha.

As a temporary measure during the suspension, patients already receiving treatment at Manipal were allowed to continue, while new patients were not permitted to access Aasandha funded services.

Aasandha currently has agreements with 60 foreign hospitals to provide overseas treatment for Maldivian patients, including 49 hospitals in India.