The former managing director of 'Aasandha', Maumoon "Maanbe" Abdul-Samad on Thursday was appointed as a deputy housing minister.
Abdul-Samad was removed from his post at 'Aasandha' on Wednesday -- just weeks after the health insurance providers limited the healthcare scheme, only to have President Yameen Abdul Gayoom reverse the decision, insisting that the government had not instructed the move.
‘Aasandha’ is the government’s universal health insurance scheme, managed in a public-private partnership with Allied Insurance Company. It began its service at midnight on new years in 2012 during former president Mohamed Nasheed’s presidency.
Abdul-Samad was unavailable for a comment at the time of going to press.
Whilst Abdul-Samad was dismissed from his post on Wednesday, and given a ministerial post the following day, the CEO of ‘Aasandha’ parent company – National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), Mujthaba Jaleel was also dismissed last week.
It was widely speculated that ‘Aasandha’ enforced the limitations on its services after the ruling party’s embarrassing defeat in the local council election.
The company had announced the decision via an impromptu circular shortly after the election, saying that the universal health insurance would no longer cover any private health care providers. The decision was made by NSPA board in order to review and revise the current regulation, the circular said.
‘Aasandha’ was brought back within 24-hours after the circular, after the president ordered to bring it back.
The revamped ‘Husnuvaa Aasandha’ scheme – health insurance for all without a ceiling – was introduced by President Yameen in February 2014, as part of his key electoral pledge to provide comprehensive medicare for a healthy population.