Vice President Faisal Naseem has conducted extensive discussions with relevant authorities on the challenges faced and potential improvements to healthcare services provided in the five regional hospitals in the Maldives. The meeting was held online this afternoon.
The attendees of the online meeting included officials from Addu Equatorial Hospital, Laamu Gan Regional Hospital, Raa Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, Dr AbdulSamad Memorial Hospital, Ministry of Health, Aasandha Company, State Trading Organization (STO) and Senior Officials of the President’s Office.
While speaking at the meeting, the Vice President stated that it was a significant milestone to be able to broaden the range of services offered at regional hospitals, despite the hardships present by COVID-19. He also stated that the government aims to develop accessible healthcare facilities in all regions of the Maldives to diminish the need to travel to the Malé region seeking better healthcare.
The senior officials of the regional hospitals mainly shared concerns over the challenges they face in acquiring Human Resources, highlighting the shortage of doctors and nurses. Moreover, they raised issues of delays in the acquisition process of medical consumables and inadequate stock of medicine in regional hubs. The officials went on to brief the Vice President on details of specific issues they face in providing high-quality healthcare service for the people.
During the meeting, the CEO and Managing Director of STO, Hussain Amru Mohamed Rashad, briefed the participants on STO's efforts to solve the concerns regarding delivering sufficient stock of medicine to the regions.
Concluding the meeting, the Vice President stated that it is the mandated duty of the Ministry of Health to plan decentralized projects that will empower regional medical hubs. He also advised all relevant authorities to work together in providing reliable healthcare services to the people of the Maldives.