Gov’t Advances National Health System With Major Service Expansions

The government is actively strengthening the national health system, according to Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, Chief Executive Officer of the Male’ City Group of Hospitals. 

He highlighted these developments during the inauguration of the National Centre for Neuroscience and Stroke. Efforts to enhance the health system include introducing new services and expanding existing ones, particularly by extending services available in Male’ to the atolls. Authorities describe these measures as evidence of an improved and more accessible healthcare system.

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Haleem outlined plans to expand services at the main government hospitals, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and Dharumavantha Hospital, this year. Developments at IGMH will include establishing a second Urban Primary Health Care Centre in Male’, relocating the phlebotomy and laboratory blood collection service to the ground floor, and introducing a Tempus blood sample collection and transport system. IGMH wards will also be redesigned to enhance patient experience.

Major service expansions at Dharumavantha Hospital are set to include the establishment of a cath lab, strengthening of the Intensive Care Unit, and development of the National Cardiac Centre. Additional services will include cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, interventional radiology, gastro ERCP, and general robotic surgery. Plans also cover expanding ophthalmology services and establishing a surgical navigation system.

The government has emphasised a key policy of expanding major health services to the atolls to reduce the need for Maldivians to travel abroad for treatment. Over the past two years, this policy has been supported by the introduction of new services and the expansion of existing treatments.