Tertiary Healthcare Expands Beyond Malé with New Hospital Projects

The government has signed contracts worth MVR 316 million with two state-owned enterprises to build and expand hospitals in three islands, with the goal of providing tertiary healthcare services in the atolls.

The agreements were signed at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, involving the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) and the Road Development Corporation (RDC).
MTCC will handle two major projects: the construction of a new building at R. Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital and the expansion of GDh. Thinadhoo’s AbduSamad Memorial Hospital. Both are aimed at developing the hospitals into tertiary care centers and are set to be completed in 17 months. The Ungoofaaru project is valued at MVR 161.2 million, while the Thinadhoo expansion will cost MVR 147.4 million.

RDC was awarded a contract worth MVR 7.7 million to develop a labour room complex and ICU at Lh. Naifaru Hospital. This project is expected to be completed within one year.
Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim stated that once complete, the upgraded hospitals will be equipped to provide full tertiary-level services. More hospital developments are planned across the country, he added.

Director General of Health Sciences Dr. Ahmed Ashraf highlighted that many patients are currently transferred to Malé for treatment of serious conditions like kidney, heart, and nerve diseases. He said the upgraded hospitals will help reduce these transfers by offering specialized care within the atolls.