The state has decided to merge Hithadhoo Regional Hospital with Addu Tertiary Hospital.

The President's Office informed the Ministry of Health via an official letter about the state's decision to dissolve Hithadhoo Regional Hospital and transfer its services to Addu Equatorial Hospital.

Deputy director-general of the health ministry, Thasleema Usman, told RaajjeMV that the required administrative works of Addu Tertiary Hospital cannot be undertaken without dissolving Hithadhoo Regional Hospital.

The tertiary hospital is built at Addu City's Equatorial Conventional Center.

Thasleema stated that while there is no set date for the launch of Addu Equatorial Hospital, plans are underway to open the hospital as soon as possible. She further added that equipment installation and other preparations have been ongoing since December 1st.

Moreover, staff are undergoing training by instructors from the Trauma and Emergency department of IGM hospital (IGMH), said Thasleema.

As such, she disclosed that there are additional training programs planned, including an exchange program between the tertiary hospital and IGMH.

She went onto assert that the hospital will not launch its services without ensuring that every staff is properly trained to use the equipment at the hospital.

The Equatorial Convention Center was built in 2011 for the SAARC Summit during the MDP government, but former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration had decided to modify it to a hospital.

The tertiary hospital was built using a loan of USD 8.4 million (MVR 129.5 million) secured from OPEC Fund for Development (OFID) under which the necessary equipment for the hospital was also procured.