President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said the proposed budget for the year 2015, will facilitate the development of the national health system. The President made this remark while speaking at the opening ceremony of the new complex at Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, held on Sunday evening at Ungoofaaru.
Underscoring the lack of access to adequate healthcare facilities, President Yameen stated that the biggest challenges faced by the Maldivian people were in the health sector of the country. In this regard, President Yameen highlighted that the Government accords its highest priority to providing better quality healthcare for its people.
Continuing on, president Yameen noted that the biggest chunk of the state budget was allocated for alleviating these challenges faced and to upgrade the healthcare system. The President also reiterated the Government’s commitment to providing affordable healthcare services to all Maldivians equally, without discrimination.
Underlining the Government’s firm resolve to strengthen the healthcare mechanism of the country, President Yameen highlighted the Government’s achievements in providing a comprehensive health care system for its people. Within this context, the President noted that 57 STO pharmacies have been established in 57 islands across the country, to provide access to affordable medicine for the people under the Government health insurance scheme ‘Husnuvaa Aasandha’.
Highlighting the Government’s electoral pledge to assign a Gynaecologist for each atoll, President Yameen noted that, with the exception of Vaavu atoll, Gynaecologists were now made available in every atoll. Furthermore, the President noted that sea-ambulance services launched by the Government to ensure fast delivery of urgent medical services, was now operational in 7 atolls.
Addressing the people, President Yameen emphasised that the newly opened hospital would provide access to better quality health care services to the people of Maldives, including the provision of services of medical specialists from 12 different areas. Speaking further, President Yameen expressed his hope that the people of Raa atoll, as well as the people of nearby atolls, would greatly benefit from this hospital.
Speaking to the people, President Yameen underlined the planned and ongoing developmental projects of Ungoofaaru. Within this context, President Yameen stated that the funding for development of a water supply facility, establishment of a Sports Arena, upgrading of football ground and the road development project of the island has been included in the next year’s budget.
Following the ceremony, President Yameen and First Lady Madam Fathimath Ibrahim toured the hospital, whereby they called on some of the admitted patients.
President and First Lady also attended a dinner hosted in their honour, by the people of Ungoofaaru.
