The Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs has approved the resolution to broaden the coverage of the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, for issues related to pregnancy.
The resolution was submitted by Parliamentarian Meekail Ahmed Naseem in order to improve the health coverage of citizens under the national health insurance scheme to guarantee their right to treatment. The resolution highlighted that essential medicine needed to treat issues during pregnancy is unavailable in the Maldives.
In the report, the committee recommended that a survey be conducted to determine if infertility rates are affecting the decline in births. It also suggested amending insurance regulations to cover pregnancy treatments and establishing treatment facilities for pregnancy issues at government hospitals.
The data disclosed to the committee by the Ministry of Health shows that the total fertility rate dropped from 2.5 in 2009 to 2.1 in 2017. In addition, the Maldives Demographic and Health Survey shows that 2.1% of women aged 15-49 are infertile. Aasandha Company Limited has stated that the government is in the process of formulating policies to treat issues related to pregnancy and to make the treatments cheaper than in neighbouring countries.