Minister of Health, family and Welfare Geela Ali has said one of the Government's most significant achievements in strengthening cancer care has been expanding cancer screening services in Malé and across the atolls, allowing more people to detect the disease earlier and access treatment sooner.

Speaking during Wednesday's sitting of Parliament, Minister Geela responded to a question raised by Member of Parliament for North Galolhu constituency Mohamed Ibrahim. She said oncology treatment and complex diagnostic tests remain the leading reasons Maldivians are referred overseas for medical care.

Minister Geela noted that 1,638 people were referred abroad for cancer treatment in 2023, with the figure increasing to 1,996 in 2024. She added that the number exceeded 2,002 in 2025, including both newly referred patients and those travelling overseas for continued treatment. Maldivians residing in neighbouring countries are also included in these figures.

She stressed that although cancer is a serious disease, it is treatable when detected early, making the expansion of screening services one of the Government's most important healthcare initiatives.

As part of these efforts, mammography services have been introduced in the Greater Malé Region, the country's five regional hospitals, Fuvahmulah Hospital, and Baa Atoll Hospital. Minister Geela said more than 750 people have already accessed the service within the Maldives.

She also revealed that work is underway to introduce mammography services at Shaviyani Atoll Hospital, Haa Alifu Atoll Hospital, and Gaafu Alifu Atoll Hospital, with the Government planning to eventually make the service available at hospitals in every atoll.

In addition, Minister Geela said arrangements are being made to ensure cervical cancer screening tests are available nationwide. She added that chemotherapy services are now accessible within the Maldives, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel overseas.

She said only 39 patients travelled abroad for chemotherapy treatment in 2025. Hulhumalé Hospital currently has a dedicated nine-bed chemotherapy unit, where 655 patients received treatment during the year.

She said the expansion of cancer screening services has enabled more cases to be identified at an earlier stage, allowing patients to begin treatment sooner and improving access to timely care.

The Government has been expanding diagnostic services across the atolls as part of its efforts to strengthen healthcare and reduce reliance on Malé. These initiatives include establishing laboratories nationwide and introducing specialised services that were previously unavailable outside the capital, with cancer screening among the services now being rolled out across the country.