Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital has revealed the fieldwork for the extension building to upgrade to a tertiary hospital has now been completed with funds now allocated to purchase equipment from the state budget next year.
The hospital is facing challenges in terms of space and resources. The project to upgrade the hospital to tertiary level began in March last year to address the complaints of patients. As such, the extension building will expand services for the emergency room (ER) and increase capacity for tests for increased efficiency, and important services such as magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) are scheduled to be launched.
Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital said the current emergency services will also improve with the extension building, The hospital currently consists of two ER beds and six private rooms. The number of ER beds and private rooms will increase to 16 with the completion of the new building.
The complaint of delays in tests due to lack of capacity is a big complaint by patients. The hospital has experienced challenges in conducting tests efficiently. However, the extension building will solve the issues related to capacity with a new ultrasound scanner, CT scanner, and X-Ray machine. The hospital also aims to treat 25 people with heart disease every day.
With the major change to convert the Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital to a tertiary level, the building will also be designed in an environmentally friendly manner. The four-storey building has 300W solar panels installed on the roof alone which will increase the reliance on environmentally friendly energy and reduce the cost of fuel. The government also aims to develop the Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital as a specialised hospital.
Developing health facilities in the atolls is one of the highest priorities of the administration. The initiative aims to reduce the reliance on the Greater Male’ Region and allow atoll residents to receive medical treatment and healthcare services near their residential islands.