The Ministry of Health has signed a contract with Germany’s GITECH Consulting Group to conduct the feasibility study, design and supervision work for the Maldives’ new National Health Laboratory. The agreement, announced on 9 November, is a part of a major national initiative to strengthen the country’s diagnostic capacity and public-health preparedness.

According to the Ministry, the 12-storey facility will include Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories and advanced units for virology, bacteriology, parasitology and molecular diagnostics. The project is jointly financed by the European Investment Bank and the Government of Maldives, and is expected to become a central hub for rapid disease detection, surveillance and response.

Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim stated that the National Health Laboratory will bring together essential diagnostic disciplines under one roof, enabling faster and more accurate identification of emerging threats. He added that the facility will also support food safety, drug-testing services and public-health security measures.