President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that starting 1 August, patients seeking medical treatment abroad under the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) will be able to purchase up to USD 2,000 at the official bank rate. Those funding their own medical treatment abroad will also eligible to purchase up to USD 1,000 at bank rate.
Currently, patients travelling abroad under the Aasandha scheme can purchase up to USD 2,000 at the bank rate, while other travellers, including those going overseas for medical purposes at their own expenses, are limited to USD 500 issued for each ticket.
In a post on social media platform X, President Dr Muizzu said the government has instructed the authorities to facilitate NSPA patients to get up to USD 2,000 from banks from the first of next month, similar to the existing policy for Aasandha patients.
The President also revealed that he has also asked the authorities to arrange USD 1,000 through banks effective 1 August, for those who travel abroad for medical treatment at their own expense. Currently, such patients can buy up to USD 500 only, which forces them to rely on the black market for USD purchases where the rates are significantly higher.
The President's decision will ease the difficulties faced by those travelling abroad for medical treatment in obtaining dollars.
According to the latest figures shared by NSPA, more than USD 1.6 million was spent by the agency on medical expenses in June this year. Of this, NSPA spent USD 525,290 for treatment abroad and USD 1.14 million on domestic healthcare services.