MVR 727 Million Spent on Police and MNDF Medical Care in Three Years
The Maldivian government has spent more than MVR 727 million on healthcare for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and police officers over the past three years, new figures submitted to Parliament show. The costs have been rising each year, sparking debate over the growing expense of medical benefits for the country’s security forces.
Large Share of NSPA Budget Goes to Security Forces
Documents presented to the Public Accounts Committee show that a significant portion of the National Social Protection Agency’s (NSPA) budget is allocated to cover healthcare for both the MNDF and the police, including their families.
Between 2021 and 2023, medical care for MNDF personnel amounted to MVR 324 million. Of this, 80 percent—about MVR 260 million—was used for the treatment of officers’ families. Around MVR 253 million was spent locally, while MVR 7 million went toward overseas treatment.
Sharp Increase in MNDF Healthcare Spending
Expenditure on MNDF healthcare rose from MVR 77 million in 2021 to MVR 142 million in 2023. This marks an increase of nearly 80 percent in just two years. The Auditor General’s report highlighted that spending in 2023 alone exceeded the approved budget by 35 percent.
Police Healthcare Costs Outpace MNDF
The police recorded even higher medical expenses than the MNDF, with a total of MVR 465 million spent between 2021 and 2023. From this amount, MVR 341 million was spent on treatment in the Maldives, while MVR 62 million went to overseas medical care.
In 2021, the state spent MVR 106 million on police medical treatment. By 2023, that figure had climbed to MVR 167 million, a 57 percent increase.
When the police were first established as a separate institution from the MNDF, their medical coverage was handled by Allied Insurance. That arrangement ended in 2011, when a dedicated healthcare system similar to the MNDF’s was introduced.
Today, the police receive the largest health budget allocation among state institutions. With spending on both the MNDF and police rising sharply in recent years, the numbers highlight the growing weight of security force healthcare on the state budget.