Fourth Government Optical Shop Opens at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital

The fourth government-run optical shop has been officially opened at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital, expanding access to affordable eye care services in the northern region.

The facility was inaugurated by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim during a ceremony attended by the Chief Executive Officer of the Male’ City Group of Hospitals, Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, along with hospital management and staff.

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The opening forms part of the government’s efforts to ease the financial burden on citizens by strengthening public healthcare services. With the introduction of the new outlet, access to affordable optical care has been further enhanced nationwide. The government has increased health coverage for the purchase of optical products to USD 129.53 every two years and decided that the service should be provided through government-run shops, reducing costs for patients.

To date, 12,988 individuals have sought services at government optical shops, with 12,056 receiving glasses at state expense. In addition to the newly opened facility at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital, other government-run optical shops operate at Addu Equatorial Hospital and at two locations in the Greater Malé Region, namely Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Hulhumalé Hospital.

The expansion comes amid continued high demand for optical services across the country, with the government undertaking measures to further strengthen and broaden the availability of eye care services within the public health system.