Aasandha policies have been amended to expand access to overseas medical treatment.
Under the new changes, services that are not registered under Aasandha may also be covered under the scheme for treatment abroad. The scheme will now consider multiple factors when approving overseas treatment, including type of illness, patient’s condition, difficulties in receiving treatment locally, and other relevant medical and logistical factors, despite the service being available locally.
Speaking on PSM News’s Raajje Miadhu programme, Aasandha’s Managing Director Aminath Zeeniya said under the previous rules patients were not referred abroad in cases where treatment is available locally. She clarified the restriction will still be maintained, and patients cannot travel abroad for treatment that can be effectively provided in the Maldives.
Referrals for unregistered services will be made to foreign hospitals that are empanelled under the scheme and have specialist doctors. While only specialist doctors relevant to a case can issue referrals, if specialists are not available locally in islands and atolls, doctors authorised by Aasandha may be allowed to issue referrals.