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Maldives Expat Health Insurance

The Republic of Maldives is an archipelago nation comprising 1,192 islands which are situated in the Indian Ocean, approximately 700 kilometers south-west of Sri Lanka. The islands form a double chain of 26 atolls which cover a territory of almost 90,000 square kilometers. With a population of approximately 314,000 people, the Maldives are one of the most dispersed countries in the world. It is also the smallest country in Asia, in terms of total population and land area. Tourism dominates the local economy and it accounts for 30 percent of GDP and 60 percent of the country’s foreign exchange receipts. 185 islands are inhabited by the local population with the remainder being developed exclusively for tourism or agricultural purposes. The fishing industry is the main form of employment for citizens of the Maldives and the sector receives extra protection from the local government.

Maldives Health Care and Insurance

The provision of quality health care has proved difficult for the government of the Maldives, largely due to the country’s geographical layout and dispersed population. Insufficient numbers of health personnel and problems with funding have prevented much needed investment in the health sector. Accessibility to health facilities remains a problem as many citizens need to travel overseas to the capital city Malé in order to visit the country’s main health facilities. There are two hospitals in the Maldives, both of which are located in Malé and they are limited in the range of treatments they are capable of providing. A national Maldives health insurance scheme (Madhana) was established in 2009 although membership of the scheme is restricted to citizens of the Maldives. It is therefore advisable for travelers and expatriates to purchase an international Maldives medical insurance policy which will cover them for the duration of their time on the islands.

The Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and the ADK hospital are the two main hospitals of the Maldives. The IGMH became the Maldives first large health facility and it was built in 1990 with assistance from the Indian government. The IGMH can offer general surgical procedures, pediatrics, orthopedics, emergency and diagnostic care and some specialist services. It has a capacity of 275 beds and the state is responsible for its administration. The IGMH is the main referral hospital for members of the Madhana health insurance scheme and waiting times at the facility can be quite long. The ADK hospital is a private sector health facility which is operated by ADK Enterprises. ADK Enterprises are also heavily involved in the distribution of pharmaceuticals in the Maldives. The ADK hospital has a 50 bed capacity and can offer a reasonable standard of health care. Services and treatments available are similar to those offered by the IGMH but they are considerable more expensive. The ADK is a well equipped facility with highly trained staff and it is the preferred choice for expatriates and international travelers should they require medical attention while in the Maldives.

The government of the Maldives has introduced a number of reforms and initiatives aimed at improving the standard of health care. Income generated from tourism has been reassigned towards health care with the intention of building new health facilities on more of the country’s islands. These facilities will focus on creating awareness and promotion of good health attitudes. The health and well being of women and children has also been pushed up the list of priorities. Programs aimed at the control and eradication of diseases such as Malaria have had some success, incidents of Malaria are now very rare throughout the Maldives. The health care system remains a work in progress and as such, expatriates and travelers visiting the country should invest in a Maldives health insurance policy.

Maldives Travel Insurance Concerns

The Maldives are one of the lowest lying countries in the world and it has a maximum natural ground level of just 2.3 meters, while the island average is 1.5 meters. Over 80 percent of the country’s land mass is less than one meter above sea level. Rising sea levels and the Maldives location in the tropics have left it vulnerable to natural disasters and flooding. The 2004 Tsunami that devastated many Asian countries also had a detrimental impact on the Maldives and caused an estimated USD400 million in damage to infrastructure. In addition, 12,000 people were displaced and 100 people lost their lives. The Maldives enjoys a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season is typically from May to October with the wet and humid weather frequently inducing storms and heavy rainfall during this time.

Although incidents of Malaria are low, other diseases transmitted by the bite of insects can be found in the Maldives. Diseases such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya are prevalent throughout the islands. To reduce the risk of catching such a disease, precautions against insect bites such be adopted. These include using insect repellant, wearing long sleeve trousers and shirts after dark and using disinfected bed nets. Travelers and expatriates are advised to seek advice from a travel health specialist at least four weeks prior to their arrival in the country. A number of vaccinations are recommended which include the routine MMR and DPT vaccination plus those for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Typhoid. Diseases and illnesses affecting the stomach are the leading cause of ailment among travelers to the region. Hands should be cleaned regularly and only bottled water should be consumed. Raw and undercooked food should be avoided at all times.

Maldives Expat Health Insurance

The health care system of the Maldives is limited to the more populated islands. Public health facilities are quite basic and are often overcrowded. Should an expatriate or traveler on a remote part of the Maldives require urgent medical attention or specialist treatment, air evacuation to Malé would be necessary. Air evacuation costs can be extremely expensive and health facilities will require cash payments for services received in the Maldives. Expat health insurance that we offer can cover you for a wide range of medical benefits and Global Health Insurance’s expert advisors can assist you, free of charge, to help you find the health insurance products and policies that would be best suited to you. These policies can be tailored to include benefits such as in-patient or out-patient services, dental and air evacuation. For more information on Maldives expat health insurance or international health insurance plans please contact a Global Health Insurance advisor today.