Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has announced that the first General Practice (GP) clinic in Malé City will be completed within one and a half months.

The initiative is part of the Government’s broader efforts to reduce congestion at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and improve access to primary healthcare.

Speaking to local media, Minister Nazim said the GP clinics are expected to bring significant relief to residents by offering treatment for common ailments closer to home. The first clinic is nearing completion, and recruitment of medical personnel is already underway. He also announced that construction of a second clinic in Malé is scheduled to begin soon.

As part of this initiative, the Government plans to establish four GP clinics across Malé City and six more in Hulhumalé. Minister Nazim explained that this approach mirrors international healthcare models, where patients are encouraged to seek care for minor illnesses at local family clinics rather than at central hospitals.

This model, he noted, will not only provide patients with faster and more convenient treatment but also help alleviate the pressure on IGMH. Currently, the hospital’s emergency department sees over 400 patients daily, with nearly 300 of those cases being manageable at a GP clinic level, according to Health Ministry statistics.

The expansion of GP clinics is part of the Government’s wider strategy to enhance healthcare services across the Greater Malé Region and the atolls. Many citizens are hopeful that this shift will reduce the need for Maldivians to travel abroad for reliable medical care.