Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH) has introduced Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), becoming the first medical facility outside Malé to offer the life-saving emergency treatment for heart attack patients.

The service was launched through a collaboration between AEH and the National Cardiac Centre, following a specialised medical mission conducted from 31 March to 2 April 2026.

Chief Executive Officer of the Malé City Group of Hospitals, Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, confirmed the successful rollout, describing it as a key milestone in expanding access to advanced cardiac care across the Maldives.

During the initial mission, medical teams carried out 11 angiograms and six angioplasty procedures. The programme also introduced additional cardiac services in Addu City, including Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) implantations and permanent pacemaker insertions, significantly enhancing the range of treatment now available in the southern region.

The development forms part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to decentralise specialised healthcare services. By bringing advanced cardiac treatment closer to communities in the atolls, authorities aim to ease the financial and logistical challenges faced by patients who previously had to travel to Malé or seek treatment abroad.