President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed that strengthening nationwide health services is a top priority for his Government.
Speaking on the seventh episode of the Rayyithunaa Eku podcast series, the President said God willing, the health sector will undergo significant improvements this year and the following year. In this regard, he he outlined a number of recent developments and Government-led initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare provision nationwide.
Noting that Malé City now accommodates the largest proportion of the population, the President highlighted that numerous healthcare projects have been initiated in the capital. Many of these services are already operational, with further enhancements planned. He also pointed out that, within the past week alone, key initiatives have begun to deliver tangible benefits to the public.
Among these efforts, the President referred to the relocation of the Maldivian Blood Services and the Thalassaemia and Other Haemoglobinopathies Centre to the Orange Hiya building. This previously stalled project was handed over to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and completed within a month. The newly inaugurated facility, opened on May 25, features expanded wards for women and children, increased blood storage capacity, and upgraded human and technical resources. The improvements were made in consultation with thalassaemia patients and their families.
On the same day, President Dr Muizzu inaugurated the upgraded emergency services at Hulhumalé Hospital. The new facility is equipped with modern medical technology and includes a resuscitation room designed to manage critical emergencies efficiently. He stressed that, with Hulhumalé projected to house up to 300,000 residents, enhancing its healthcare infrastructure remains a key priority.
The new 75- bed Multi-Specialty Surgical Wing at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) was inaugurated on the same day as well. This addition increases capacity for general, neurosurgical, plastic, orthopaedic, and urological procedures, thereby strengthening the specialised services at the country’s main referral hospital.
President Dr Muizzu further highlighted the establishment of a unified hospital management system under the Malé Group of Hospitals, which now integrates Dharumavantha Hospital, IGMH, Hulhumalé Hospital, Vilimalé Hospital, and the Thalassaemia Centre. He explained that this shift from a competitive to a collaborative model has significantly streamlined service delivery.
Reiterating his Administration’s commitment to the health sector, the President emphasised that several projects are ongoing across the country to improve both access to care and overall public health outcomes. He underscored the Government’s strong emphasis on disease prevention, citing the generational ban on tobacco and the ratification of the Tobacco Control Act (Law No. 15/2010) as landmark achievements.
The President renewed his call for the country to transition away from the tobacco trade, noting that tax revenue from tobacco sales would now be directed towards preventive healthcare efforts. He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised the Maldives’ anti-tobacco initiatives, a distinction he described as a great honour for the nation.
