National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has revealed discussions are underway to facilitate the transport of locals seeking medical treatment from India and Sri Lanka amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the daily press briefing, Spokesperson of NEOC Mohamed Mabrook Azeez said the government is working on facilitating the transport of locals who need to seek treatment from neighbouring countries for different health conditions. In this regard, Mabrook said the government of the Maldives is in discussions with the governments of India and Sri Lanka on matters such as the number of patients that can be transported, the available routes for transport and the cities which can accommodate the patients. He added only individuals who are in serious condition and need urgent treatment that is not available in the Maldives will be transported abroad.
India and Sri Lanka are popular destinations for locals seeking treatment from abroad, with several hospitals in the two countries listed under the universal health insurance scheme of Aasandha Company Limited. Several Maldivians were stranded in India and Sri Lanka when the two countries were locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of them have been repatriated to the Maldives, while a number of locals are still in different cities of the two countries.