Thalassaemia DNA testing services have been introduced  at Maldives Blood Services under the Malé City Group of Hospitals (MCGH), making it the first time the service has been introduced under a State operated facility. 

The new DNA Laboratory was officially inaugurated by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, marking a significant expansion of diagnostic services for blood disorders within the public healthcare system.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister Nazim said DNA testing for thalassaemia had previously been limited to a small laboratory operated by a non-governmental organisation, and that the introduction of the service at a Government facility would strengthen national capacity for diagnosis and treatment. He noted that the laboratory is equipped with automated testing systems capable of conducting advanced blood analyses that were previously unavailable in public hospitals.

The Minister said the service would support the diagnosis and management of thalassaemia and other blood disorders, improving access to specialised testing for patients across the country. He added that expanding laboratory services is a key component of efforts to strengthen the national framework for the treatment of blood-related diseases.

During the inauguration, Chief Executive Officer of Malé City Group of Hospitals, Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, said the new laboratory would enable more comprehensive screening and research into blood disorders prevalent in the Maldives. He noted that testing kits have been designed to reflect the genetic profile of blood diseases in the Maldivian population, allowing for the identification of mutations that were previously undetected.

CEO Haleem said the availability of DNA testing at Maldives Blood Services would also support early detection and prevention efforts, including screening at younger ages and prior to marriage, as well as the introduction of prenatal diagnostic services for thalassaemia. He said these measures are expected to contribute to long-term reductions in the incidence of the disease.

The DNA testing laboratory is the third service to be introduced since Maldivian Blood Services and the Thalassaemia and Other Haemoglobinopathies Centre were relocated to a new facility in Hulhumalé in June 2025. Other services launched at the centre include endocrinology, internal medicine and haematology clinics, along with a dedicated Thalassaemia Patient Care Centre.

Under the Government’s free bone marrow transplant programme, 10 children were sent overseas for transplants last year, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 24. The Government has also announced that thalassaemia patients will receive a monthly allowance of MVR 2,000.

In his Presidential Address, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated that work to establish a dedicated Thalassaemia Hospital will commence this year as part of efforts to strengthen specialised healthcare services in the Maldives.