All Maldivians will be provided with healthcare under Madhana in 2012- President

President Mohamed Nasheed has said that all of the people of Maldives will be provided with healthcare under Madhana (the state health insurance system) in the year 2012.

Speaking at the public rally of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) held last evening at the Aritificial Beach area, President Nasheed said that the government understands that more efforts are needed to be made to promote and improve the health sector of Maldives.

President Nasheed said that the government aims to establish systems for health, well-being and social protection of the people; provide affordable, accessible and quality healthcare services and sustain the quality of healthcare services and social protection services.

The President said the positive impact of the government’s social protection programme was now visible, and the government was encouraged and reassured by the success of the programme.

President Nasheed said that the government’s aim is to raise the number of Madhana clients to nearly 100,000 by the end of this year.

The President also said that the efforts exerted by the government to prevent the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs into the country and drug abuse have been rewarding. He said that this is evidenced by the reduction in the number of people reported for drug offences now, compared with that of two years back.