President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the Thalassaemia Centre, along with the Maldivian Blood Services (MBS), in the coming weeks, will be transferred under the administration of the Malé Group of Hospitals, a move aimed at streamlining service delivery and revising operational hours to better serve patients.
He made the announcement during the fifth episode of the Rayyithunaa Eku podcast.
Speaking on the podcast, the President extended greetings on the occasion of World Thalassaemia Day, which was being observed that same day, and emphasised the importance of managing the Centre under a hospital structure to enhance efficiency and service quality. He stated that administrative responsibilities would be transferred to the Malé Group of Hospitals within the next two weeks, expediting both service provision and organisational management.
With this change, the President said patients would have improved access to specialist care and be able to seek timely medical intervention. He also noted that services provided in the atolls would fall under the same administrative umbrella. Following the relocation of the Thalassaemia Centre to the Orange Hiyaa facility in Hulhumalé, the role of the Malé Group of Hospitals in managing these services will be significantly expanded.
Reflecting on earlier discussions in previous podcast editions, President Dr Muizzu highlighted the progress of the Orange Hiyaa facility since plans were first announced. He confirmed that the Thalassaemia Centre has now been relocated to the more spacious Orange Hiyaa premises in Hulhumalé. The President added that he had directed the Ministry of Finance to allocate additional budgetary support to improve staffing levels and equip the facility – an initiative that is already underway.
The President also announced that, in line with the Government’s pledge to fund bone marrow transplants, 14 patients have already received the procedure, with plans to expand access to more patients in the coming years. He revealed that preparations are underway to establish a dedicated Thalassaemia hospital in the Maldives, with agreements due to be signed with contractors in the coming weeks. These contractors are stipulated to provide bone marrow treatment services as part of their mandate.
President Dr Muizzu concluded by reaffirming that securing sustainable solutions for thalassaemia patients remains a key priority for his Administration. More details regarding the planned hospital and services are expected to be announced soon.