The amount of US dollars sold for medical treatment has tripled within just one year after the amount issued to people travelling abroad for treatment was increased, raising questions.
Statistics from the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) show that a total of USD 18.51 million was sold for medical treatment last year, while the figure had risen to USD 41.1 million by the end of September this year. The largest share of this, USD 29.2 million, was sold to people who travelled for treatment at their own expense.
Since August last year, Bank of Maldives (BML) has been issuing up to USD 2,000 to people travelling under Aasandha and NSPA, and USD 1,000 to those travelling at their own expense. However, the sharp rise in the figure within a single year, at a time of high demand for dollars, has raised questions over whether the money was spent on genuine medical treatment or obtained improperly.
It has been noted that urgent measures are needed to further strengthen the system and stop the misuse of dollars, in order to protect the country's economy and foreign currency reserves.
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