HPA Reports Over 1,400 Names on Cancer Patients’ Register

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that they are in the process of compiling a register of cancer patients in the Maldives, with more than 1,400 names already included on the list.

The agency aims to finalise this data by the end of the year. In response to the increasing number of cancer cases in the Maldives, the HPA is working to identify patients and develop a Cancer Patient Registry, a first of its kind for the region. The registry is designed to provide essential data to assess the prevalence of cancer and the most common types affecting the population.

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Abdulla Muaz Adam, Public Health Coordinator at the HPA, told PSM News that the collection and digitisation of cancer case statistics are in progress, with over 1,400 patients from IGMH and Hulhumale’ Hospital already included. The finalised statistics will help to better understand the cancer burden and identify the key risk factors contributing to the rise in cases.

The HPA is also focusing on raising awareness and conducting cancer screenings across islands and atolls. Hulhumale’ Hospital, the primary government facility for cancer care, has reported the highest number of cancer cases, particularly from Male’ City, Addu City, and the northern atolls of Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, and Raa.

Currently, breast, lung, blood, thyroid, and oral cancers are the most prevalent in the Maldives. As most cancer patients seek treatment abroad, the financial burden is significant, affecting both patients and the government.

To address this issue, the Maldivian government has committed to building a state-of-the-art cancer hospital within the country, with work on the facility already underway. Non-communicable diseases account for 84% of deaths in the Maldives, with 17% attributed to cancer, highlighting the urgent need for improved local treatment options.