National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has assured there would be no situation where healthcare services are suspended in any island due to the lack of doctors or healthcare professionals.
Speaking at the daily press briefing, Spokesperson of NEOC Mohamed Mabrook Azeez said medical teams from islands had been brought to Male’ City following the detection of COVID-19 in the capital, adding the teams are now returning to their islands. He said the medical teams will resume work in the islands following the end of their 14-day quarantine period.
Noting the scarcity of healthcare workers would be a major challenge as COVID-19 continues to spread, the spokesperson said the administration will nevertheless ensure there would be no situation where health services are suspended in an island due to the lack of doctors and nurses. In this regard, he noted the administration will ensure the transfer of a doctor to attend any island placed under quarantine and has no active doctors during that time.
Speaking in regarding the COVID-19 cases found in the Maldives, Dr. Ibrahim Afzal from the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) said most cases have been showing few or no symptoms of the disease. The doctor said all positive cases would not require hospital treatment, noting the patients who require intensive treatment are mostly elderly people and individuals who are immunocompromised due to underlying health conditions. He added most cases can be treated at home.
The government had previously stated there would be difficulties in acquiring the services of doctors and nurses if COVID-19 continues to spread at the current rate. There are 905 doctors and 2,970 nurses working in the Maldivian healthcare system.