Aasandha seeks to negotiate lower prices with private hospitals

CEO of Aasandha, Aminath Zeeniya has expressed concerns over the high prices charged by major private hospitals, stating that efforts are underway to negotiate lower costs for services. Speaking before the Parliament Committee on Social Affairs, Zeeniya explained that Aasandha is in discussions with prominent private hospitals in Maldives to provide affordable services to the people. She pointed out that the pricing at these hospitals is significantly higher, with costs applied to every service from the moment a patient enters the hospital. This, she noted, results in prices that are often higher than those for treatment abroad. Zeeniya also highlighted that Aasandha has expanded its coverage, now including services such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and thalassemia treatment, which were previously not covered. The organization is actively working on packaging these services in collaboration with hospitals to make them more accessible. During the same session, Heena Waleedh, CEO of the National Social Protection Agency, discussed the historical challenges facing Aasandha. She noted that the system had been used for political purposes in the past, and that all previous governments had witnessed rising expenditures on Aasandha. However, she added, no government had taken adequate steps to reform the system. Heena also raised concerns about the high prices of medicines, particularly in Dhaka, where costs are reportedly 15 times higher than in other countries. She criticized the extraordinary prices at which medicines are being sold, further burdening patients. Addressing the issue of outstanding payments, Heena mentioned that many Aasandha bills remain unpaid, including under the current government. However, she assured that the Ministry of Finance is working to clear these arrears as quickly as possible. The Committee on Social Affairs of Parliament has called on Aasandha officials to address these concerns and ensure that the system better serves the needs of the public.