The healthcare infrastructure in the Malé region is set to expand significantly with the addition of 117 new hospital beds, announced Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, CEO of the Malé City Group of Hospitals, on Tuesday.
These beds will be distributed between Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and Hulhumalé Hospital as part of ongoing efforts to address the chronic shortage of healthcare capacity in the capital city.
Speaking to PSM News, Haleem emphasized that the Maldives’ healthcare system relies heavily on hospitals in Malé, which have struggled to meet the growing demands of the population. He noted that for the past 30 years, only 316 beds have been available in the region’s public hospitals, leading to challenges in accommodating patients referred from across the country.
To address this issue, a new 75-bed ward is being constructed in the former administrative block of IGMH, which has now been fully vacated. “The ward will be completed this year and begin operations early next year,” Haleem confirmed.
Additionally, the third floor of Hulhumalé Hospital’s six-story building is being repurposed to accommodate 28 new beds. These projects will increase the total bed capacity in government hospitals in Malé to 433, Haleem stated.
The bed expansion forms part of a broader plan to enhance healthcare services in the Maldives. This includes the development of a Cancer Hospital, a Thalassemia Hospital, the Villimalé Tertiary Hospital, and an extension to Hulhumalé Hospital.
Haleem reiterated that these efforts aim to alleviate the strain on Malé’s healthcare system and improve access to quality medical care for all citizens, especially in the face of rising demand. The new beds and facilities are expected to significantly enhance patient care and service delivery in the coming years.
