39 medical students have been sent abroad to specialize: Health Ministry

The Ministry of Health has announced that it had funded education abroad for medical students, in its efforts to produce more Maldivian specialist doctors.

Sheeza Ali, the Director General of Health Services at the ministry, said at ministry conference on Tuesday that this decision to aid medical proffessionals is one that is tied to the government's wider intent to provide broader health services to the outer lying atolls, more such programs will be conducted in the future.

"We have sent 39 students to specialize in whichever field of medicine that they desire, between 2014 and now" Sheeza said.

At the conference, she further said that 16 doctors have been stationed in the atolls - including paediatricians, gynaecologists, and anaesthesiologists, who have - through community outreach programs - treated 10,000 patients during this period.

Minister of Health Ibrahim Nazim said the government has galvanised its efforts to strengthen public health facilities since 2016, having built laboratories in health centres and ensuring services are provided for all 24 hours of the day. He said the Health Ministry has also trained 84 healthcare employees since 2014.