MMA limits the USD 1,000 medical allowance to six countries

The Maldives Monetary Authority has limited the USD 1,000 sold to Maldivians who travel abroad for medical treatment at their own expense. From Tuesday, that allowance is available only for patients going to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates. People travelling to one of those countries can still buy the dollars through the banks. The USD 1,000 sale is not available for other destinations. The central bank said the change is to make sure dollars supplied for medical care are spent on treatment. It said the step also protects foreign currency reserves and keeps dollars available for people who need them. Patients travelling under the state scheme Aasandha can still buy USD 2,000. In August 2025 the amount for Aasandha cases, and for aid from the National Social Protection Agency, was set at USD 2,000. People paying their own way were set at USD 1,000. The MMA said sales for medical travel have risen by an unusual amount since then. From January to September this year, banks sold USD 41.1 million for medical purposes. That is nearly three times the USD 18.51 million sold in the whole of last year. Of this year's total, USD 29.2 million went to people travelling at their own expense. The authority said the jump raises questions about whether the allowance is being misused.