Decentralizing Public Health Services Will Promote Preventive Health Care – President

President Mohamed Nasheed said decentralizing public health services would promote preventive health care in the Maldives.

Meeting the press to announce the decentralization of public health services from today, the President said public health and preventive health care had been neglected in the country since early 1990s.

However, he said the government’s priority was to establish preventive mechanisms while working to improve the quality and access to health services in the country.

He said decentralizing public health services would ensure consistent monitoring of health and wellbeing of every individual in the country, making preventive medicine more effective.

Following the implementation of the decision today, all public health workers of the Ministry of Health and Family were transferred to island councils.

Speaking to the press today at the President’s Office, the President outlined the changes that would be brought to the roles of public health workers in every island.

He said public health workers posted in every island council would maintain health records of each and every individual in the islands, especially senior citizens and people who need special care and assistance.

Health workers’ roles, the President said, would also include continuously implementing measures to prevent communicable diseases and address other public health concerns in the islands.

He said the complaints that surround the health sector in the Maldives were currently centered on lack of machineries, doctors or the access to adequate health care.

The government’s objective was to prevent people from falling ill, because prevention was better than cure, he added.

The President also told the press that ministers and senior officials from the Health Ministry were conducting orientation programmes for new councilors about their roles in decentralizing public health services and working together with National Offices in each region.

He said following this change in the approach to provide public health service in the islands would make the public health service delivery more efficient and effective.