A public petition calling for the special health insurance given to members of parliament to be abolished has been sent to the relevant offices for their responses, according to the People's Majlis e-petition portal.
The petition, numbered EPT202600052, was submitted on 12 August by Midhuam Saudh of S. Maradhoofeydhoo. It opened for signatures on 16 August and had gathered 7,225 signatures when signing closed at the end of September.
The portal shows the petition was sent to the Majlis Petitions Committee and for debate in the Majlis on 18 October, and to the relevant offices for their responses on 22 October.
What the law provides
Under the law on the privileges and powers of the People's Majlis (Law No. 5/2013), every MP, along with their spouse and children under 18, must be enrolled in a medical insurance scheme covering treatment in the Maldives, SAARC countries and ASEAN countries. The law also extends similar health insurance cover to former MPs.
The petition says MVR 100 million was spent on premiums for MPs' health insurance between 2015 and 2025.
What the petition asks
The petition argues that basic state health insurance should be provided to all citizens equally and on the same terms, and that holding public office is no reason to spend taxpayers' money on more generous cover.
It also says studies of the world's ten largest economies found no major country that gives former MPs lifelong health insurance.
The petition calls for the laws granting this cover to current and former MPs and their families to be repealed, and for all MPs to be covered only by the national health insurance available to every Maldivian.