The Dharavandhoo Health Centre in Baa Atoll has officially commenced dialysis services, marking a pivotal development in the government’s effort to decentralise specialised healthcare. The facility was inaugurated by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim and is expected to ease the burden on patients who have long travelled to Malé for essential kidney treatment.
The launch reflects a central objective of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration: improving access to medical services for residents of the outer islands. For many, the journey to the capital has posed significant logistical and financial challenges. With two dialysis beds now operational and an internal medicine specialist stationed at the centre, the Dharavandhoo unit is positioned to deliver consistent, localised care.
This expansion brings dialysis services to a majority of the country’s regions. Yet four atolls, Alifu Dhaalu, Vaavu, Faafu and Dhaalu, remain without such facilities.
Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease, when the organs can no longer effectively filter waste from the blood. The procedure removes toxins, excess fluids and metabolic waste through a machine, with sessions typically lasting four hours and required two to three times per week. Regular access is essential, making proximity to treatment centres a matter of both convenience and survival.
The introduction of dialysis in Dharavandhoo is part of a broader initiative to reinforce the national healthcare system. President Muizzu’s government has outlined plans to ensure the availability of medicines at affordable prices, restructure the national health insurance programme, Aasandha, and implement legislative reforms aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight.