Dialysis services have been officially inaugurated at Komandoo Health Centre, marking a further step in efforts to decentralise healthcare services across the Maldives.
The service was launched at a ceremony attended by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, alongside members of the island council and health centre officials.
With this development, Komandoo becomes the 11th island to offer dialysis services since the current administration took office. The treatment is essential for patients with kidney disease, where kidney function is significantly impaired. Dialysis, which removes waste and excess fluid from the blood, is typically required for four hours, two to three times a week.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Nazim said the service would benefit not only residents of Komandoo but also those from neighbouring islands.
“The dialysis service will benefit the people of Komandoo as well as other islands in the atoll,” he said. He added that the introduction of the service would ease the burden on patients and families who previously had to travel long distances, often to Malé, to access treatment.
The new unit is equipped to treat two patients at a time and includes a dedicated isolation room for patients with specific medical requirements. The initiative forms part of the government’s broader plan to establish dialysis services in every atoll during its current term, with the aim of making advanced healthcare services more accessible nationwide.
In parallel, the government is implementing wider reforms to strengthen the healthcare system, including changes to the Aasandha national health insurance scheme and updates to legislation and regulations to ensure sustainable and quality care for all citizens.