An emergency motion has been submitted to the Parliament today highlighting the fertility issues crippling the nation and calling for the treatment of infertility to be covered by the national health insurance scheme Aasandha.
The motion was submitted to the Parliament by MP for Galolhu Dhekunu Constituency Mickail Ahmed Naseem.
It said that while the laws pertaining to Aasandha and Healthcare in the Maldives stipulate that all Maldivians must have access to quality health services, it was troublesome to seek treatment for infertility in the country.
The issues MP Mickail highlighted in his motion include;
- The difficulty in getting prescriptions used by indivuduals who are seeking treatment for infertility
- Aasandha does not cover essential medications for infertility treatment
- Difficulty in finding specialist treatment for infertility in the Maldives
- No research done regarding infertility in the Maldives
MP Mickail had included solutions that would bolster infertility treatment in the Maldives including easy access to essential medications used by patients treated for infertility as well as to conduct a research on the issue.
The motion also called for the coverage of infertility treatments through Aasandha in some form and to make guidelines on what aspects can be covered in the national health insurance scheme.
MPs who had taken part in the debate of the motion supported it.
MP for Maafanu Uthuru Constituency Imthiyaz Fahmy pointed out that families who are suffering from infertiity issues are denied housing opportunities due to the issue. He said that when applying for housing, applicants are given more points for having more kids and those without kids are denied their right to housing.
Meanwhile, the MP for Hinnavaru Constituency Jeehan Mahmood said that the government should give importance to those suffering infertility and that the government can arrange treatment for some individuals through Aasandha.
MP for Maduvaree Constituency Adam Shareef Umar noted that many in the Maldives are bearing the pain of infertility. He said that it was important to seek how such individuals can be supported legally and in other areas of life.
Most of the MPs who stood to speak on the motion indicated that infertility was a pressing issue that should be addressed and that a nationwide research should be conducted on the matter.
