Aminath Zeeniya, the recently appointed Managing Director of Aasandha, has outlined plans to tackle the rising costs associated with the healthcare scheme. Zeeniya acknowledged the financial strain imposed on the state by Aasandha and underscored the necessity for cost-cutting measures and sustainable management.
Zeeniya acknowledged concerns about elevated expenses abroad but clarified that data indicates a substantial portion of Aasandha’s expenditure is allocated to medicines sourced from local pharmacies and private hospitals.
Zeeniya expressed her commitment to lowering Aasandha’s overall expenditure during her tenure and highlighted the importance of introducing specialised packages to optimise costs in line with established global practices.
Addressing the variability in healthcare costs abroad, Zeeniya proposed standardising rates within a state to mitigate discrepancies. She also recommended grading hospitals abroad based on the standard of service to regulate expenses under the Aasandha scheme.
With the anticipated expenditure of MVR 2.3 billion for the current fiscal year surpassing the budget by MVR 1.3 billion, Zeeniya’s proposed strategies aim to prevent additional escalation. The finance ministry cautions that without cost-cutting measures, Aasandha’s expenditure for the next financial year may rise to MVR 3.4 billion.
In the previous year, she stated that Aasandha witnessed the highest expenditure in the past five years, surpassing the allocated budget by 20%. Acknowledging the substantial spending on medicines, estimated at around MVR 500 million, Zeeniya has taken steps to mitigate these costs. The World Bank’s findings indicate a 15-75% price disparity for some locally sold medicines. Zeeniya’s comprehensive approach aims to address these challenges, ensuring Aasandha’s financial sustainability and efficient resource allocation.
