Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has stated the COVID-19 situation has emphasised the need for a decentralised healthcare system in the Maldives.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister Ameen said the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the healthcare system of the Maldives, exposing the issues which need to be addressed. The minister said the COVID-19 experience will be used to address these issues and further strengthen the healthcare system. He added the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for a dencentralised healthcare system more than ever, noting it is now time to implement the decentralisation policies of the administration.
Speaking further, the minister said trained healthcare professionals and resources are required for all the atolls, adding a new system of public health needs to be adopted in the atolls. He said the government is working on a long-term plan to establish such a system, which can efficiently provide the required personnel and resources for all islands despite the geographic challenges.
As part of the efforts to decentralise the healthcare system of the country, the government has decided to develop tertiary hospitals in five regions of the Maldives. In this regard, new health facilities will be added to three existing regional hospitals to turn them into tertiary-level hospitals.
Upon development, the hospitals will have 19 OPD consultation rooms, 6 private rooms, 3 ICU beds, 3 NICU beds, 2 operation theatres and 8 wards with 12 beds each. In addition, laboratories, X-ray rooms and ultrasound scanning facilities will also be developed in the hospitals.
The government believes the development of tertiary hospitals will significantly reduce the need for residents of the atolls to travel to Male' City for medical purposes.