Bank of Maldives (BML) has introduced a fully digital medical dollar booking system through its Mobile Banking App, streamlining access to foreign currency for citizens seeking medical treatment overseas.
Under the new system, eligible customers can apply for their medical dollar allowance, upload supporting documents and track application status in real time directly via the BML Mobile App. The bank states that the initiative is aimed at reducing administrative procedures while improving convenience and transparency for patients and their families.
Patients travelling abroad under the national healthcare schemes Aasandha and the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) are eligible to receive up to USD 2,000. Individuals self-financing medical treatment abroad can access up to USD 1,000.
BML further announced that approved medical dollar allocations will now be credited exclusively to customers’ USD accounts. Customers without a USD account can open one directly through the mobile application.
The move forms part of a broader strategy to enhance financial support for international travel. Last year, BML increased the overseas Point-of-Sale spending limit on debit cards to USD 1,000 and raised the transaction limit for specific categories including airline tickets, hotel bookings and overseas debit card payments to USD 3,000.
The bank noted that the higher transaction limit provides added flexibility for medical travellers, enabling direct payment of larger hospital bills using BML debit cards as an alternative to the medical dollar facility.