The decision to establish a mental health hospital in Malé was based on the high number of patients seeking treatment in the area, Minister of Health, Family and Social Welfare Geela Ali has said.

Responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Galolhu North constituency Mohamed Ibrahim in Parliament, Minister Geela said more than 70,000 mental health consultations had been conducted over the past three years, with around 45,000 of those consultations recorded in the Greater Malé Region.

Noting that mental health care requires a specialised treatment system, Minister Geela said the Government has allocated 10,000 square feet of land in Hulhumalé for the development of the hospital. She added that the absence of a dedicated mental health hospital and limited focus on such services in previous years had affected access to treatment for many patients.

The minister said the current Administration has been working to strengthen mental health services across the country. As part of those efforts, 60 individuals have completed rehabilitation programmes and been reintegrated into the community, while the national mental health helpline received more than 10,000 calls last year.

Although psychiatric services are already available in different parts of the Maldives, Minster Geela said the proposed hospital in the Greater Malé Region will provide modern facilities and a comprehensive treatment system designed to meet growing demand for mental health care.