Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has stated no charges are imposed on patients admitted for COVID-19 treatment.
IGMH made the statement following claims on social media that the hospital had waived the bill of an expatriate who was admitted for COVID-19 treatment. The social media post claimed that a pregnant Bangladeshi woman, whose baby had to be delivered prematurely due to COVID-19, received a bill of over USD 20,000 which was waived by the hospital.
In a press statement issued on July 10, IGMH stated the hospital does not charge any patients admitted for COVID-19 treatment. The hospital said the policy applies for both locals and expatriates.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has undertaken special efforts to ensure equal access to COVID-19 treatment and vaccines for locals and expatriates without discrimination. As such, a large number of expatriates have been vaccinated under the COVID-19 vaccination programme launched in the Maldives in February.