Maldives’ COVID-19 expenditure nears MVR 4 billion

Records released by Finance Ministry show government expenditure on COVID-19 has rised to MVR 3.8 billion. 

According to the weekly updates on COVID-19 expenditure, the government spent MVR 2.1 billion on health and social sector by the end of September 16. 

The greatest expenditure in health and social sector was registered by Health Ministry. Health Ministry spent MVR 805.9 million, while National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) spent MVR 785 million. 

The the bulk of spending – MVR 1.1 billion - was on supplies and requisites for service provision which included medical consumables. 

Meanwhile, the government also spent MVR 1.7 billion on the economic response by the end of September 16. MVR 1.1 billion was on the COVID-19 recovery loan scheme. 

MVR 420.8 million was spent on income support allowance, MVR 172.4 million on subsidizing electricity bills, and MVR 26 million on subsidizing water bills.