Minister details several updates in health sector during Wednesday's sitting

Minister of Health, Abdulla Ameen has revealed that they are currently in discussions with the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to fast-track the development of Dr. Abdul Samad Hospital in Thinadhoo island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll contracted to MTCC.

During questioning at the People’s Majlis sitting on Wednesday, Minister Ameen was asked on the delays facing the project by MP for north-Thinadhoo constituency.

The current government had vowed to develop the hospital to tertiary standards, having announced for a company to prepare the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) and design of the building, in the beginning of 2019.

In response to queries, Minister Ameen stated that the project was tasked to MTCC during the end of 2019 and that since then, the management has changed.

Stressing that the work will be further delayed if they were to contract it to another company, the minister stated that they are holding discussions with MTCC to speed up the process.

Since the current plot of land has inadequate space, the minister earlier announced that they will be building the 100-bed tertiary hospital in another plot of land.

He further noted that they are working to disburse the allocated budget for Public Sector Investment Programs (PSIPs) under the decentralized system to local councils next Sunday.

Ameen highlighted that they will begin issuing the projects to outlying atoll councils by the upcoming week. Further, it has been revealed that projects costing below the specified amount will be tendered by councils, this change has been brought under the recent amendments to the Decentralization Act.

Some of the projects include developing health centers in islands, and the ministry aims to issue all projects by the end of the next two weeks.

Highlighting that assigning a children’s specialist to Makunudhoo island in Haa Dhaal atoll is one of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s pledges, Makunudhoo MP questioned the minister why it has not been done yet. To this, the minister responded that it requires more space in the island’s health center, adding that a children’s specialist will be assigned once the space scarcity is fixed and the center is more equipped.

Ameen stressed that they face hindrances in resolving such issues as they surface in several islands, just as they face difficulties in finding specialists for outlying atolls.

When inquired on why the authorities have not assigned a cardiologist to Kulhudhuffushi Hospital yet, Ameen revealed that they have interviewed five individuals for the post thus far. However, all of them have cancelled their arrival to Maldives every single time, said Ameen.

The minister added that they have held discussions to resolve the issue with Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

It has also been revealed that the government is working to provide more education slots for individuals who wish to specialize in different areas of the health sector.