The Maldives Monetary Authority has restricted the sale of US dollars for privately funded medical treatment abroad to six countries.
From now on, individuals travelling for medical care at their own expense can purchase up to USD 1,000 only when the destination is India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore or the United Arab Emirates. The central bank said the change is intended to ensure the foreign currency is used for its stated purpose.
The USD 2,000 allowance available through the Aasandha national health insurance scheme for patients referred for treatment overseas remains unchanged.
Banks will continue to release the dollars for qualifying medical travel. Figures released by the MMA show that total dollar sales for medical purposes reached USD 41.1 million by the end of September 2026, three times the amount recorded in the same period of 2025. Of that total, USD 29.2 million went to private medical travel.
The authority introduced the USD 1,000 private medical allowance in August 2025. Demand has risen sharply since then.
