Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced 865 people who required financial assistance to cover their medical bills were provided assistance from the Zakat Fund.
A report published on October 15 indicates the ministry assisted 865 people of the 944 applied who applied for assistance. The report also indicated the total cost of the 865 medicals bills paid amounts to over USD 650,000. The ministry further stated it had assisted people in treating 25 types of diseases, with financial assistance for 102 people seeking treatment for cancer. Kidney patients sought assistance the second most after cancer patients.
The ministry has also revised the application forms to better evaluate the cases of people seeking financial assistance. Applicants for aid from the fund is required to submit all relevant documents, including a statement from Aasandha Company Limited, a statement from the doctor and a letter describing the state of the patient.
The ministry said assistance will be provided to admitted patients and outpatients who do not have any insurance coverage or financial assistance while it also assists cases where insurance coverage is insufficient to pay all the bills. The fund also pays for bills of people who are transported to Male' from islands due to life threatening reasons, in addition to people traveling abroad for medical treatment currently not available in Maldives.