Allied Insurance has issued a health insurance package worth MVR 367,277 for the members of the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (Control Commission).
Adhadhu understands that the insurance package for the seven-member commission was secured from Allied Insurance in July. The state-funded policy costs MVR 52,468 annually per member.
Under this health insurance package, commission members will receive extensive coverage and benefits for medical consultations at private hospitals both in the Maldives and abroad.
The substantial state expenditure on health insurance for the Control Commission members has drawn public criticism, particularly as these members receive additional private coverage on top of the universal state healthcare scheme, Aasandha.
The Control Commission is composed of President Mohamed Farushath, Vice President Zammath Ahmed Waheed, and members Simaha Naseem, Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, Hussain Saqeef, Aminath Sarahath Izzath, and Safa Shafeeq.
The budget for the Control Commission this year is MVR 16.32 million. This reflects an increase in expenditure compared to the combined budget of MVR 16.08 million allocated last year to the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) before their merger.
In last year's budget, MVR 4.9 million was allocated to the MMC, while Broadcom was allocated MVR 11.54 million.
Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, who introduced the bill to regulate the media, previously claimed that the Control Commission was established to reduce state spending on Broadcom and the MMC. At the time, members of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) also advocated for the move on the grounds of cost-efficiency.
