Mufeedh: Petition to scrap MPs’ health insurance aims to create discord

The People’s Majlis on Tuesday debated a petition seeking to remove the high-priced health insurance scheme provided to parliamentarians. In the debate, Milandhoo constituency MP and PNC member Hassan Mufeedh said the petition was submitted to create political discord. He argued that claims that MPs receive far greater insurance coverage than ordinary citizens are not based on fact. Mufeedh said the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) already provides state-backed coverage to citizens in line with the state’s income, and that the mechanism for ordinary citizens is more convenient than that for MPs. He noted that under the MPs’ insurance scheme, members must travel abroad at their own expense and then submit bills for reimbursement. He described the petition as one submitted clandestinely by a group to stir discord.