An agreement has been signed between the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure and the government of China, for the design work of the hospital being built in Vilimalé with the assistance of the Chinese government.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Maldives by the Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, Abdulla Muththalib. The Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Kong Xianhu, signed on behalf of the Chinese government.

Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim and some senior officials from the government of China also participated in the signing ceremony.

It was noted at the ceremony that the hospital has been named 'China-Maldives Friendship Hospital'.

The ministry has revealed that a 112-bed hospital is being built in Vilimalé.

The agreement for starting the design phase of the hospital was signed after completing the feasibility study.

The new hospital is set to be built on the land where the current Vilimalé hospital is operating. However, the government had earlier stated that if adequate space is not available, the tertiary hospital would be built after demolishing the building where the Vilimalé hospital is currently operating.

China handed over the findings of the studies completed for the hospital to be built in Vilimalé to the Maldivian government on 17 October 2024.

During his inaugural state visit to China in January 2024, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, while addressing the public in China, said that the Chinese government had agreed to provide grant aid for the project.

The president also noted that the land needed for building the hospital has already been designated. He also said that with the hospital, the concerns of Vilimalé residents will be addressed.