The fieldwork has commenced for the construction of the Hoarafushi Hospital. The foundation stone of the hospital was laid by Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem, Parliamentarian of the Hoarafushi Constituency Ahmed Saleem, and President of Hoarafushi Island Council Mohamed Waheed at a special ceremony held in Hoarafushi, Haa Alifu Atoll.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Naseem announced that the hospital will be equipped with 30 beds. He highlighted that the hospital has been designed to cater to the specific needs of patients, drawing from valuable patient experiences. He said the hospital will also feature essential amenities such as X-ray services, an infectious disease control unit, a flu clinic, and a fully equipped emergency room. In addition, he highlighted that the primary objective behind the development of hospitals and healthcare centres in the country is to enhance the overall public health conditions and foster a healthier society.
Meanwhile, Waheed noted that the residents of Horaphoshi have faced considerable challenges in accessing healthcare services. He pointed out that even for relatively minor medical needs such as X-rays or blood transfusions, individuals have had to leave the island. This has resulted in a significant inconvenience, particularly when they had to travel to Male' City for such basic services. As such, he said the introduction of these healthcare facilities has been eagerly anticipated by the local community, as it will greatly alleviate these burdens and improve accessibility to essential medical care.
The health ministry contracted PT Citramas Heavy Industries in a joint venture with Flex Ink Private Limited to construct the Hoarafushi Hospital. As per the agreement, the contractor has been tasked to complete the construction of the 30-bed hospital building within one year and six months at a cost of USD5.5 million funded from the state budget.
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 residents to receive medical treatment and healthcare services near their residential islands. As such, the government has pledged to develop tertiary hospitals in five regions and the development of extension buildings to increase the space required for health centres and hospitals.