State Trading Organization (STO) has successfully trained and launched the country’s first batch of locally trained radiographers into the job market.

The initiative began after a 2018 study by GE Healthcare revealed a heavy reliance on expatriates in the radiography field. To address this gap, STO and GE Healthcare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer a locally run radiography course aimed at strengthening the national workforce and improving access to diagnostic services.

The STO Training Institute, established in 2019 and accredited by the Maldives Qualification Authority, led the programme, which included a monthly stipend of MVR 2,300 for each student. Out of 25 participants, 23 completed the course successfully.

Two graduates have already secured positions in atoll hospitals, with the remainder actively seeking employment. STO hailed the development as a major step forward in local healthcare capacity and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting similar initiatives in the future.

The graduation ceremony was held at Villa College, where Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim awarded certificates to the new radiographers.