President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called on Maldivians to participate in building an ‘all-inclusive’ health care system in the Maldives.
In an address commemorating World Health Day, on Sunday, President Solih said that his government is working to ensure that every Maldivian has access to quality health services.
The president said that the Maldivian government has been covering a wide range of health services for its citizens, and that even now vaccines are provided for free.
President Solih also highlighted that he has fulfilled his pledges to connect all medical facilities in the Maldives through a single network, and establish a facility to provide mental health services.
The Maldivian Democratic Party, to which Solih belongs, won a clear majority in the parliamentary elections held on Saturday.
The party has put forward a legislation, of which a draft bill will be submitted to the People’s Majlis once the parliamentarian-elects are sworn in, on health care services.
The legislation stipulates the minimum standard for health centres and atoll hospitals, which includes providing round-the-clock services and having enough nurses to support the resident population.
While health centres in some islands are currently ill-equipped to provide anesthetic services, under the legislation, they will be developed to have the capacity to carry out minor procedures. A general practitioner will be on premises at all times, as well.
Under the legislation, atoll hospitals will also have specialists in key areas and a general surgeon as well, and hospitals will have the infrastructure to carry out critical surgical operations.
Specialists from atoll hospitals will also be taking residency at health centres in neighbouring islands and providing out-patient services.
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