President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced improvements to the Government’s universal healthcare insurance scheme, Aasandha, with an imminent expansion of coverage to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand.

He made the remarks while speaking to the media at Velana International Airport (VIA) upon his return to the Maldives after concluding his state visit to the People's Republic of China on Saturday.

The President conveyed that the enhancements would diminish reliance on confined medical facilities in a select group of countries, enabling patients to pursue finer healthcare. In this regard, the President declared that the imminent expansion of coverage to the UAE and Thailand would incorporate accommodation expenses within the scope of Aasandha coverage.

Speaking on the agreements forged during his state visit to China, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu indicated that a 100-bed tertiary hospital facilitated by Chinese aid is slated for construction in Vilimalé. Furthermore, he elaborated that the Chinese assistance would encompass all essential facilities for health centre laboratories across 17 islands.

A delegation of senior government officials accompanied the President and the First Lady on their state visit to China from the 7th to the 13th of this month.