Sri Lanka’s Lanka Hospitals has suspended services provided under the Aasandha scheme due to non-payment by the Aasandha Company.

An official from Aasandha confirmed to One that around MVR 70 million is owed to Lanka Hospitals on behalf of patients treated under the scheme. The hospital decided not to renew its agreement after the outstanding payments were not settled.

The official explained that in previous years the agreement had been renewed before its expiry, but this time renewal was not possible due to unresolved issues between the two parties.

Many Maldivians living in Sri Lanka rely on the Aasandha scheme for medical treatment, and the suspension is expected to affect a large number of patients.