GITEC Pvt Ltd, a German company, has been awarded the contract to conduct the feasibility study, building design, and construction supervision for the development of the National Health Maldives Laboratory.
The agreement was signed by State Minister of Health Khadeeja Abdul Samad Abdullah, and Director of Health and Social Infrastructure, Christian Jaminon on behalf of GITEC Consulting Group.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim highlighted that establishing a national-level laboratory is essential to elevate healthcare services to new levels. He noted that the government is working towards this, and described the handover of the National Laboratory project as a significant milestone.
The Minister also spoke on the difficulties encountered in the past due to lack of such a facility, and noted that sending samples abroad for analysis was both time-consuming and costly. He emphasised that a comprehensive national health laboratory is essential to strengthen the country’s health infrastructure and ensure timely access to essential diagnostic services.
"Having a strong national level laboratory is one of the most important tasks before us today. At present, we depend on foreign laboratories for analysis of various drugs, food items and other materials. This process takes considerable time and incurs additional expenses, and delays the delivery of services to the public,” he said.
The project, awarded for USD 1,230,160.64, includes several key components such as a feasibility study to be completed within 90 days, and design work, to be completed within 145 days. The company will also be responsible for the preparation of tender documents for the construction phase, supervising construction work and overseeing maintenance work during the defect liability period.
The current National Health Laboratory operates within the Ministry of Health building, where limited space has created challenges for expansion of its services. The new facility to be developed in Hulhumale’ will be an advanced Level 3 biosafety laboratory housed in a 12-storey building, featuring state-of-the-art technology.
The project is jointly funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Government of Maldives. The project is scheduled to be implemented in two main phases, with the first phase covering feasibility studies and design work, while the second phase will involve construction and equipment works. The second phase is scheduled to be implemented next year.
According to the Health Ministry, the new laboratory will be equipped to conduct virology testing for biosafety level 2 and 3, as well as bacteriology analyses. The project will further expand the food and drug testing services currently provided by the National Health Laboratory, and enable the analysis of imported exported goods.
In addition, the laboratory will support research and testing in the fields of mycology (study of fungi), entomology (study of insects) and parasitology (study of parasites). It will further enhance research capacity in the health sector. The building will also house the National Influenza Centre, and Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) will also be relocated to the building.
The building will be designed to provide employees with a high-quality working environment, and will feature a multipurpose hall, library, gymnasium, recreation and childcare facilities, staff accommodation, cafeteria, prayer hall, and vehicle parking area. In addition, the building will also have dedicated areas for waste management, medical and non-medical storage, cold-chain facilities, as well as a biomedical workshop.
The project aims to promote research and development efforts in the laboratory sector, while strengthening professional expertise through modern facilities. The building will be constructed in accordance with the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO).