As part of the government’s efforts to improve accessibility to healthcare for all citizens, dialysis services are now available across 10 islands in the archipelago, according to the Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim.
Kidney disease is one of the most prevalent non transmissible diseases among Maldivians for which individuals seek overseas medical treatment. As such, the government has prioritized investment in facilities for dialysis within the country. Kidney patients typically require dialysis two to three times a week, with each session lasting about four hours.
The government aims to expand dialysis service across all atolls by the end of the current term, with Dhaalu Atoll being the most recent atoll where the service was inaugurated.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Dhaalu Atoll, the Health Minister said the introduction of dialysis services will benefit residents of Kudahuvadhoo and other islands in the atoll. He noted that the service will reduce the need for long-distance travel for treatment. He added that dialysis services have now been established in 10 islands over the past two years, with the government aiming to expand the service to all atolls during its current term.
The minister also highlighted the challenges faced by kidney patients and their families in accessing these services and said that it is an imperative of the administration to ensure healthcare is accessible to all citizens.
The minister also stated that establishment of dialysis service is a project that takes considerable effort, pointing out the infrastructural development required, the machinery that is needed and the training of staff. Many islands where the services is available now previously did not have trained staff to implement the dialysis service, however with the government intervention all these islands now have trained staff, minister revealed.
The government has introduced Peritoneal dialysis (PD), which is a home based treatment that uses an assistive device for dialysis treatment.
Currently Vaavu Atoll and Faafu Atoll does not have access to dialysis services. The government projects that with the establishment of this service across all atolls, the burden of the healthcare services in the Greater Male’ Region will be alleviated and it will further incentivise individuals to live in their native islands.
The government’s development plan is interlinked and planned meticulously, with upgrades in the transport sector such as the RTL to enhance accessibility of healthcare. Once dialysis services are made available in the atoll hospital, allowing residents from nearby islands to travel via the RTL service to access these services.