Secret Committee Meeting Called Over MPs' Insurance Delays

Frustrated by treatment delays at hospitals locally and abroad, Maldivian MPs summoned Allied Insurance to a parliamentary committee—and then immediately voted to seal the proceedings from the press. Committee Chair Mohamed Shahid and MP Ibrahim Dheedhi accused journalists of "misrepresenting" their previous complaints regarding health coverage friction. The secret hearing comes amid escalating public backlash against high-earning lawmakers over canceled committee meetings and poor legislative productivity.

Parliamentary Committee Closes Meeting to Press Over MPs' Health Insurance Delays

A parliamentary committee session convened to question Allied Insurance over service delays experienced by Members of Parliament at local and overseas hospitals was abruptly closed to the public and press following complaints over news coverage.

The General Purpose Committee had summoned representatives from Allied Insurance Company—the service provider managing the health insurance scheme for parliamentarians—to address operational hurdles faced by MPs seeking medical care.

At the start of the session, Committee Chair and Hulhudhoo constituency MP Mohamed Shahid expressed dissatisfaction with media coverage of a previous committee meeting held last Tuesday. Shahid clarified that lawmakers were addressing specific contractual delays and administrative difficulties encountered when presenting their insurance coverage at panel hospitals in the Maldives and abroad.

Echoing these concerns, Feydhoo Dhekunu constituency MP Ibrahim Dheedhi asserted that news outlets had misrepresented and twisted the statements made by committee members during the prior proceedings. On these grounds, Dheedhi presented a formal motion to close the meeting to journalists.

The motion was seconded by Holhudhoo constituency MP Abdulla Saththar Mohamed and passed unanimously by attending committee members. Consequently, the committee conducted a closed-door session lasting one hour with Allied Insurance officials.

The decision to hold a secret session regarding personal health insurance perks comes amid heightened public scrutiny regarding the compensation and productivity of parliamentarians. Lawmakers receive substantial salaries and financial allowances, yet face persistent public criticism over low legislative output, frequent cancellations of committee meetings, and unheld parliamentary sittings.