Cancer Treatment Abroad Keeps Overseas Medical Referrals High, Says Health Minister

Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali said that while the number of Maldivians travelling abroad for healthcare has decreased year by year, a significant reduction has not been seen due to the rising number of patients seeking overseas cancer treatment.

She made the remarks while responding to questions from North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim during today’s parliamentary sitting. The MP had asked about the government’s long-term plans to reduce dependence on foreign healthcare services and lower overseas medical expenditure.

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Geela said healthcare remains a key priority for the government, adding that spending on the sector should be viewed as an investment in improving public health and productivity rather than merely an expense. She noted that the current administration has allocated the highest amount from the state budget towards healthcare, with MVR 1.7 billion allocated in 2024 and MVR 1.9 billion in 2025.

The minister said the number of Maldivians referred abroad for medical treatment decreased by 338 between 2023 and 2025. However, she said the decline was not more significant because of the increase in people travelling overseas for cancer treatment.

Geela said that when cancer cases are excluded, overseas medical referrals for other treatments decreased by 821 people between 2023 and 2025, indicating progress in expanding healthcare services within the Maldives.

She explained that most overseas referrals are for specialised treatments that are currently unavailable locally, including oncology services and neurological care. Cancer-related treatment remained the largest category of overseas referrals, with 1,638 people travelling abroad for cancer treatment in 2023 and 1,999 in 2024.

The minister said these figures include patients receiving treatment for the first time, those travelling for follow-up or remission care, and Maldivians living in nearby countries.

Geela highlighted ongoing efforts to expand cancer services in the Maldives, including the introduction of screening programmes in Malé and regional hospitals. She said breast cancer screening is currently available at five regional hospitals, in addition to Baa Atoll Hospital and Fuvahmulah Hospital, with 750 people having accessed the service so far.

She added that work is underway to introduce screening services at Shaviyani, Gaafu Alifu and Haa Alifu hospitals, with the government’s goal of making such services available across all atoll hospitals.

The minister also noted improvements in local chemotherapy services, saying only 39 people travelled abroad for chemotherapy in 2025, while 655 people received chemotherapy at Hulhumalé Hospital during the same year. She added that chemotherapy services are also available in Haa Dhaalu, Addu, Lhaviyani, Raa and Gaafu Dhaalu, as well as selected private healthcare facilities.

She said Hulhumalé Hospital has established a dedicated oncology unit, with visiting specialists from India’s Amrita Hospital providing care to Maldivian patients.

Geela said the government recognises the high cost of sending patients abroad for treatment but stressed that the priority remains ensuring access to life-saving care. She said the long-term aim is to establish a dedicated cancer hospital in the Maldives and introduce services such as PET scans and radiation therapy locally.

She noted that 77 people travelled abroad for radiation therapy in 2025, adding that establishing these services domestically would help reduce overseas referrals and healthcare expenditure.

The minister also highlighted improvements in cardiac care, noting that heart-related diseases remain one of the leading causes of death in the Maldives. She said several cardiac procedures that previously required overseas referrals are now available locally, with MVR 44 million spent on cardiac treatment services in the Maldives during 2024 and 2025.