Despite foundation stone for Manadhoo Hospital being laid in July, only progress made to date has been the felling and removal of several palm trees
The Manadhoo Island Council has reported that work on the new 50-bed hospital has come to a standstill despite the project's foundation stone having already been laid. Although the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) initially commenced site clearance for the development, the council confirmed that all physical progress on the project has since ceased.
The site where the foundation for the Manadhoo Hospital was laid remains vacant. | RaajjeMV | Raajje MV
It has been revealed that construction work on the new hospital in N. Manadhoo has stalled, despite the foundation stone being laid by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration.
In an interview with RaajjeTV, N. Manadhoo Council Member Moomina Solih stated that although President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu laid the foundation stone for the project during his visit to the island last July, no further progress has been made on the site.
He noted that while land clearing had commenced following the settlement of compensation for trees in the area designated for the hospital, the work has since come to a standstill. Rather than discarding the uprooted trees at the landfill, the council has requested that they be replanted along the island's main roads.
"We even offered to provide fuel under our CSR program and had already incurred expenses for it. However, the palm trees were simply dumped at the waste site. The trees brought there eventually rotted and were destroyed. The task was never completed. There wasn't enough space at the waste yard, and from that point on, it is unclear how the council handled the situation," he said.
During a meeting with the Manadhoo Council in 2022, President Muizzu stated that the Manadhoo Hospital extension and the construction of the new hospital were proceeding simultaneously. The project was officially contracted to MTCC in April 2024, alongside hospital development projects for two additional islands.
The Ministry of Health has previously stated that MTCC has been contracted to develop a 50-bed hospital in N. Manadhoo.
The council stated that although the project was awarded to MTCC, they recently received a letter from the Ministry requesting the council to oversee supervision and other related tasks. However, the design specifications and project blueprints have yet to be shared with the council.
The construction of a hospital in N. Manadhoo is a key presidential pledge of President Muizzu. As the island serves a regional population of over 13,000 people, Manadhoo remains a vital hub that local residents rely on for essential healthcare services.
