In a significant advancement for decentralised healthcare, X-ray services have been officially inaugurated at the Milandhoo Health Centre in Shaviyani Atoll.
Milandhoo becomes the fourth island to gain access to X-ray facilities since the current government assumed office, marking a transformative step in decentralising critical medical services.
Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim presided over the inauguration ceremony, underscoring the administration’s commitment to equitable healthcare access across the archipelago.
“Health services are vital for the development of any island community,” Minister Nazim emphasised, adding that preparations are already underway to introduce dialysis services in the near future.
“X-ray services are now operational, and dialysis services will follow very soon. The necessary paperwork is currently in progress,” he announced.
The Ministry of Health hailed the initiative as a major leap forward for healthcare delivery across the Atolls. Equipped with a state-of-the-art X-ray machine at its 24-hour health facility, Milandhoo can now offer prompt diagnostic imaging, enabling physicians to quickly identify and treat conditions such as bone fractures, respiratory illnesses, and certain gastrointestinal disorders.
This development is expected to significantly reduce the need for residents to travel to Male’ or other central hubs for basic diagnostic procedures—saving time, cost, and minimising health risks associated with delayed diagnosis.