Following the submission of a petition calling to abolish the expensive health insurance package provided by the state to Members of the People's Majlis that is unavailable to the general public, the Public Accounts Committee of the People's Majlis decided today to conduct a study to explore providing health insurance sustainably across the Maldives.

After debating on the Majlis floor on the petition signed by over 7,000 people and submitted to the People's Majlis calling "to abolish the expensive health insurance provided to Members of the People's Majlis," the petition was sent to the Public Accounts Committee for review.

During today's meeting held by the Public Accounts Committee to discuss the petition, MP for Hithadhoo Central constituency Ahmed Azaan Marzooq proposed conducting a study on how health insurance services can be provided to everyone in a sustainable manner. The proposal was seconded by MP for Hulhumalé South constituency Dr. Ahmed Shamheed. The proposal was passed unanimously by the members present at the committee meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Azaan stated that members receive insurance under a specific law, and that employees of many other state institutions also receive health insurance in addition to Aasandha. He stated that this includes the Cabinet and employees of courts.

"The general public receives Aasandha, and outside of Aasandha, an insurance funded by the state is received [by all those institutions]. This is something being provided within a determined system and within a specific framework. Therefore, when this matter exists like this, rather than abolishing the insurance of People's Majlis members alone in this manner, we must do this in a more sustainable way," Azaan said.

He also stated that citizens submitted a proposal to abolish members' health insurance because there is concern, and that this must be acknowledged. However, he stated that if such a change is to be brought, it should be brought in a manner including everyone who receives health insurance from the state.

"If a change is to be brought to this, if that change is to be brought, if this insurance is to be abolished for all these parties I previously mentioned, it should be abolished, or if a change is to be brought, a change should be brought," Azaan said.

Along with this, he proposed seeking consultations from all relevant agencies, gauging the government's approach, and changing health insurance matters in the most cost-effective manner. He stated that conducting a study for this appears appropriate.

Endorsing Azaan's proposal, Dr. Shamheed proposed forming a sub-committee from the Public Accounts Committee to study the entire issue.

Noting that some members called during the Majlis debate to provide a health insurance package like the one given to members to all citizens, he stated that he believes expenditure would decrease in that case.

"Therefore, citizens would not even have to beg people at that point to travel abroad for medical treatment. And total expenditure by the state might even decrease," Shamheed said.

MP for Hanimadhoo constituency Abdul Ghafoor Moosa stated that citizens are dissatisfied with the issue of health insurance because it is not fair, but if the expenditure made by Aasandha is calculated per capita, it would be much higher.

"Therefore, if public complaints arise when that service is not received, we must focus on the entire service that has been received," Ghafoor said.

He also stated that expenditure on the healthcare system is currently not sustainable, and when the expenditure of the Ministry of Health and Aasandha is combined, it reaches a total of five billion.

When the petition submitted to the Majlis calling to abolish health insurance provided to members was debated on the floor, some members spoke in the same vein.

At the time, MP for Hulhudhoo constituency and Deputy Leader of the PNC Parliamentary Group, Mohamed Shahid, called to enroll all citizens in Allied Insurance instead of the universal health insurance "Aasandha" provided by the state.

He stated that if all citizens are enrolled in an insurance scheme like the one members are enrolled in, costs for the state would decrease.

According to him, statements claiming that members are given an expensive health insurance package unavailable to citizens is a misrepresentation.