MPs Say They Are Ready to Give Up Special Health Insurance

Several Members of Parliament have expressed willingness to give up their special health insurance following a public petition calling for the benefit to be scrapped.

The issue was debated in Parliament on Monday after the petition gathered 7,225 signatures. Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem said he was willing to give up his insurance, salary and benefits.

PNC Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah also said MPs should not receive benefits unavailable to ordinary citizens. However, he argued that the current scheme costs the State MVR 24,000 per MP annually, while providing insurance coverage of up to MVR 1.35 million.

The petition calls for current and former MPs and their families to receive healthcare through the same arrangements available to the public, including Aasandha and NSPA.

The insurance scheme has not been scrapped, and the debate has highlighted differing views on equality in healthcare and the cost to the State.