Health Minister Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim has announced that the first General Practice (GP) clinic for treating common illnesses in Malé will be completed within the next one and a half months.
The initiative is part of a broader government effort to ease overcrowding at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) by providing accessible primary care through community-based clinics. The GP clinic network is also expected to improve access to timely treatment for common ailments.
Speaking on SSTV, Minister Nazim confirmed that four GP clinics are planned for Malé, along with one in Hulhumalé and a total of six clinics across the Greater Malé region. Construction of the first clinic, located at Coral Boulevard Fannu, is nearing completion, with staff recruitment already underway. Work on a second clinic will also begin shortly.
Minister Nazim noted that this model mirrors international best practices, where patients first seek care for minor illnesses at local GP clinics rather than at major hospitals. Once operational, the clinics will help ease the strain on IGMH’s emergency department and specialist services.
Currently, over 400 patients visit IGMH’s emergency department daily, of which about 300 cases could be appropriately managed through GP clinics, according to Ministry data.