Tree Top: ‘A hospital for the rich’?

The much-anticipated opening Thursday of a US$110 million tertiary hospital in Hulhumalé has drawn criticism over its steep prices.

The Tree Top Hospital charges a fee of MVR 750 (US$48.5) for consultations and doctors appointments. But Maldivians will get a 30 percent discount, a hospital official told local media. 

The multi-speciality hospital is a project of Tree Top Investments, a partnership between prominent tourism companies, which enlisted Turkish company Turmaks Alke for the construction and Malaysia’s Ramsay Sime Darby for management.

Only admissions will be covered by the government’s health insurance scheme Aasandha, resort tycoon and one of the hospital’s investors Hussain Afeef told the press earlier this week.

The hospital opening prompted debates among Maldivians on social media, with some comparing its fee to the cost of travelling to a neighbouring country while others accused the resort oligarchs of trying to profit from healthcare.

Tree top hospital doctor fee akee 750rf. Mee aadaige meehunah dehkeyne vareh Baa!!! Suvaalakee mee muhsadinnah alhaa din hospital Baa??? Shukuriya gaumu. Hingaa adhi miahvure ginain mira ah tax dahkan dho. 🙏🙏

— fezu (@fezu) March 1, 2018

“The consultation fee is MVR 750. Is this affordable to normal people? Question is, was this hospital built for the rich? Thank you, nation. Let’s pay more taxes to MIRA.”

But let’s look into scenarios on an average to the neighboring two countries:
Tickets: 250+$ (per person)
Accommodation: 250+ $ (7 Days)
Food: 200$ (7 Days)
Transportation: 100$

Excluding medical expenses and transit cost to Male' (in case)

— Hussain Jinan (@profEuLOGist) March 1, 2018

A healthy life is not a right only for financially capable people. It is for every individual person. It is a shame that business tycoons see health issues as an avenue to increase their wealth https://t.co/SolPOvyrOS

— Kullhavah Thadu 🌹 (@ithadu) February 28, 2018

Aasandha should not be allowed in this hospital. Taxpayer money should not be invested in luxury private care. The money should be invested in ensuring quality of public hospitals where ordinary Maldivians are dying because of low quality. https://t.co/EjmRPYmAPB

— 🍞🌹 (@kopitaaaa) February 27, 2018

Both 25 story hospital of @igmhmv & @TreeTopMaldives is being built by public money. Grand #corruption involved in Male hospital. Resorts owners are building Tree Top from resort workers money. They don’t pay income tax, they don’t pay fair living wage & don’t pay service charge

— Forme 🎈 (@fourmea) February 28, 2018

hey champa a good idea for you 💡 treetophospital should have a wing where we can sell some organs so we can afford medical treatment 🤗 https://t.co/B6T8OvNrO7

— xiena saeed 🎈 (@dorinbakedbeans) February 28, 2018

Doctor Appointment ah 750/-. Eygen baeh aasandha in dhehkiyas e fasisaa ves Champaa ah! Champaa muhsandhi kairy oiy falhu rashun. Doctor ah dhahkan rashu meehaa athuga huri faisaa kolhu ves Champaa ah.

— Luke (@Lucasjalyl) February 28, 2018

“A doctor’s appointment for 750/-. Even if Aasandha pays some of it, the money goes to champa. Champa got rich from the island nearby. The money the ordinary man has for medical bills must now go to champaa too”

“Insha Allah, tomorrow is a big day for Maldives Health sector. The day tree top hospital officially opens. This administration has brought a revolutionary change to the health sector.

#ThankYouPresidentYameen #RY2018”

IA miadhakee Sih’hee Dhaairaa ge Haasa Bodu Dhuvaheh. Tree Top Hospital ge Hidhumah Rasmeekoh Fashaa Dhuvas. Mi Sarukaarun Sih’hee Dhaairaa ah vanee Ingilaabee Heyo Badaleh Genesdhehvaafa. #SaabaheyRaeesYameen 👏👏👏#RY2018 @pharishka1 @ahmed_narysh

— Ahmed Imthiyaz (@AhmedImthiyaz7) March 1, 2018