Operations have begun at Hulhumalé Medical Facility, with the first patient transferred there on Sunday.

The first patient was transferred to the newly established facility, specifically for Covid-19 patients requiring critical care, from Tree Top Hospital on Sunday evening.

The hospital was handed over to the state-run Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) on May 25. However, all the installation work was completed by the State Trading Organization (STO) on June 4.

Officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and employees at Fenaka Corporation were involved in the construction work.

The five-block facility with 300 beds was developed in case of a rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in the country.

MVR 40 million was allocated for the project; MVR 12 million for the construction work and MVR 28 million for medical and other required equipment.