Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Friday said work is underway to provide equipment to healthcare facilities, required to provide medical check-up services. The government recently decided to provide medical check-up service covered by the national health insurance scheme, in order to allow citizens to lead a healthier life by being able to diagnose and treat medical conditions before too late.
The national healthcare insurance provider, Aasandha Pvt. Ltd., said the service will be provided at state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hosipital (IGMH), Hulhumalé Hospital and regional hospitals in the atolls. The service will include 5 packages targeting different age groups; packages for those below 6 years, 6 to 18 years, 19 to 35 years, 35 to 65 years and a special package for the elderly over the age of 65.
Assistant General Manager at Aasandha Aminath Zeeniya said the medical check-ups include health screenings for a number of illnesses, including heart diseases, cancer and thyroid problems. The company also recently launched a project to connect all empanelled health service providers through an e-portal.
According to HPA, currently IGMH is the only facility which has the capabilities to run all the tests done under a medical check-up. HPA added that most of the tests provided under the service will be available in Hulhumalé hospital and all regional hospitals.
CEO of National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) Mujthaba Jaleel said that medical check-up services will be introduced in regional hospitals as soon as the necessary facilities are established. NSPA is working with the Health Ministry to acquire all necessary equipment, prior to the commencement of the medical check-up service, he added.