The Maldives Zakat House has announced plans to partner with an Islamic insurance provider to offer coverage for individuals on the Zakat register who require medical treatment not covered by the national Aasandha insurance scheme.
According to a notice published in the Government Gazette, bids are being invited from Islamic health insurance providers licensed under the Business Registration Act. The insurance service will be aimed at patients undergoing treatment for serious illnesses, including those requiring life-saving care and medications sourced from abroad.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs stated that the initiative is intended to ensure that individuals on the Zakat list are able to access critical medical services otherwise unavailable through Aasandha. This includes the cost of advanced treatments overseas and access to essential medicines that may not be locally available.
Interested bidders must register by 10:00 am on Thursday, 17 July. The bidding process will formally open at 10:00 am on Thursday, 24 July. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Ministry via email.
The Zakat House was established on 18 December 2023 with a mandate to manage zakat collection and distribution across the Maldives. Its operations include the disbursement of Zakat Al-Mal and Zakat Al-Fitr to support the country’s most vulnerable populations through debt relief, medical assistance, and other financial support.
Currently, 2,852 individuals are registered under the Zakat Fund. The new health insurance service is part of broader efforts to enhance the social support provided to these individuals while remaining compliant with Islamic principles.
