IGMH to Prioritise Local Medical Graduates for Internships

The Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has announced plans to prioritise medical graduates from the Maldives for its internship programme, marking a shift in its allocation of training opportunities.

Speaking to Mihaaru News, IGMH CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem stated that while the hospital has traditionally accepted all eligible applicants, it will now focus on accommodating graduates from the Maldives National University (MNU). Up to 35 doctors are typically offered internships annually; however, the hospital is currently hosting 60 interns in two overlapping batches.

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He revealed that the internship programme, which began in March 2022, initially catered exclusively to doctors trained abroad. The decision to include MNU graduates was made to support the institution’s first batch of 21 medical students, who began their one-year internships at IGMH last October.

MNU’s second batch of medical graduates completed their studies this month, and their internships are scheduled to commence early next year. Upon completion, the graduates will be eligible to practise medicine in the Maldives.

Highlighting the collaboration between IGMH and MNU, Haleem said: “While the national university is building talent, we must take their graduates for internships. We have not stopped accepting students who studied abroad, but we will take them only within our capacity.”

He also addressed the hospital’s space constraints, particularly in critical areas such as operating theatres and intensive care units, which accommodate hundreds of patients daily. Despite these challenges, Haleem reassured that international applicants would still be considered where feasible.

Currently, IGMH is the sole provider of medical internships in the Maldives, offering interns a monthly allowance of MVR 10,000 under the civil service structure.

In a related development, from January 2024, ADK Hospital, the Maldives’ largest private hospital, will also begin offering internships. However, unlike IGMH, ADK will charge interns MVR 14,500 per month.