The Ministry of Health has reduced the validity period of temporary medical licenses from one year to six months, requiring doctors to complete the Maldives Medical and Dental Council’s licensing examination within a shorter timeframe.

The change, which took effect on September 1, 2024, was officially published in the Government Gazette on Thursday, with provisional licenses issued between September 1, 2024, and March 1, 2025, receiving a six-month extension.

A Health Ministry official confirmed to media that the revision was made because the previous one-year duration was deemed too long. However, the change only applies to temporary licenses, while the validity of permanent medical licenses remains unchanged.

Doctors who obtain a permanent license are granted approval to practice medicine for five years, with renewal required every five years.