Medical graduates have been offered internships in the atolls for the first time in the Maldives.
The internship programme is a mandatory one-year internship program to familiarise medical students with the work environment and their responsibilities before officially entering the workforce as doctors. A permanent lines to practice medicine can only be obtained after completing the internship. Until now, medical graduates in the Maldives could only pursue local internships at Dharumavantha Hospital in Male’ City.
However, the limited number of internship opportunities available at a single hospital, as well as concerns of having to remain in Male’ for an additional year after completing studies, have been key concerns of students. As part of the government's efforts to find a solution, the opportunity to complete medical internships has now been facilitated in more hospitals and atolls. The Addu Equatorial Hospital in southernmost Addu City have now announced application for the programme.
According to the Equatorial Hospital, fifteen slots will be available for the programme’s first intake. Documents to be submitted along with the application are:
• Certificate from MQA-accredited college/university where MBBS was completed
• Certificate of registration with the Medical and Dental Council of the Maldives
• Police clearance covering the last five years
• Copy of national dentity card or passport
• Passport size photograph
Interested medical graduates are instructed to submit their applications by 13:00 hrs on 15 May. The application form and supporting documents may be emailed to the hospital or submitted in person at the hospital’s administrative office.
According to Addu Equatorial Hospital, if applications exceed available slots, priority will be given based on order of graduation.
In addition to Addu Equatorial Hospital, the government has also decided to launch a medical internship programme at Hulhumale’ Hospital. The government aims to commence the internship programmes at Addu Equatorial Hospital and Hulhumale’ Hospital by June this year.