Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has said the Government has launched an unprecedented infrastructure development programme aimed at transforming the country’s health sector.

The Minister made the remarks while addressing a press conference at the President’s Office on Monday.

He said extensive efforts are underway to expand healthcare services across the atolls, with a key focus on strengthening regional hospitals and health centres to reduce reliance on Malé for medical care.

Minister Nazim stressed that the national hospital system functions as an integrated and interdependent network, where the effectiveness of one facility relies on the strength of others. He said meaningful improvements can only be achieved through a coordinated development model in which multiple projects progress in alignment with one another.

He noted that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has initiated a large-scale health infrastructure programme that is unprecedented in scope. The Minister said the President’s visits to the atolls and direct engagement with communities revealed significant deterioration in existing healthcare infrastructure, prompting accelerated intervention in line with Government policy.

Government figures show that 39 new hospitals are currently under construction across the atolls. In addition, 19 new health centres are being built, while 89 existing facilities are undergoing extension and upgrading works.

Meanwhile, 12 health infrastructure projects have been completed, with a further 22 planned. These include eight hospitals, five new health centres, and nine extension and upgrading projects.