The second government prescription glasses outlet opened on Wednesday at the Hulhumale' Hospital, providing free glasses under Aasandha.
‘MCGH Opticals Hulhumale’’ was officially opened by Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Minister Dr Abdullah Muthalib. The outlet is operated by Male' City Group of Hospitals (MCGH).
Speaking to Sun, MCGH CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem said the outlet will offer all the services available at the IGMH outlet. The Hulhumale outlet will have the capacity to issue between 34 and 40 glasses per day, he said.
"When we look at the lenses that will be made in this outlet sometimes we have to make complicated lenses. Lenses that are not made in the outlet can be made and brought from abroad," Razzaq said.
MCGH CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem speaks at the opening ceremony of the MCGH Opticals Hulhumale' on August 27, 2025. (Photo/Hulhumale' Hospital)
He said the opening of an eyewear outlet at the Hulhumale' Hospital would double the number of prescription glasses produced by the IGMH eyewear outlet. It will be a great convenience for the people who need to make glasses, especially for the people living in Hulhumale', which has a large population, he said.
Razzaq said this was a very valuable step taken by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, aimed at combating the high price of glasses and the difficulties caused to the people by it.
The prescription glasses outlet opened at the Hulhumale' Hospital will also be open the same hours as the IGMH one, he said.
The first government eyewear outlet at IGMH was inaugurated by the President at a ceremony held at the hospital on the evening of July 27.
“އެމް.ސީ.ޖީ.އެޗް އޮޕްޓިކަލްސް ހުޅުމާލެ” އައިނު ފިހާރަ ހުޅުމާލެ ހޮސްޕުޓަލްގައި ރަަސްމީކޮށް ހުޅުވައިދެއްވުން. މިރަސްމިއްޔާތު ޝަރަފްވެރިކޮއްދެއްވީ އިމާރާތްކުރުމާއި، ގެދޮރުވެރިކަމާއި ބިނާރާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާގެ ވަޒީރު ޑޮކްޓަރ ޢަބްދުﷲ މުއްޠަލިބް. @presidencymv @MoHmv pic.twitter.com/3NrKiLxlD8
— Hulhumalé Hospital (@HMH_mv) August 27, 2025
It is noteworthy that the demand for government prescription glass outlets has increased with the availability of free glasses under Aasandha. There are already many people waiting in the queue at the IGMH for glasses.
Recently, on August 5, the IGMH said 1,267 people had applied for free glasses and 131 glasses had been issued so far.
Male' City Group of Hospitals (MCGH) Opticals at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). (Sun Photo/Moosa Nadheem)
While government hospitals treat various eye diseases, the service of making prescription glasses is new. This service has always been provided by the private sector in Maldives. Glasses are expensive to purchase and repair in the Maldives and Aasandha had been allotting only MVR 1,000 for it.
Public complaints rose due to high out-of-pocket medical expenses, even with a MVR 1,000 Aasandha allotment. In response, President Muizzu increased the allotment to MVR 2,000 in June, 2025, and ordered MCGH to include prescription glasses under Aasandha.