The first general practice (GP) clinic under the Malé Group of Hospitals is scheduled to open later this month, according to CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem.

Located on Coral Boulevard in Maafannu, the clinic aims to improve access to primary healthcare and eliminate the need for referrals before seeing a doctor.

Speaking before Parliament’s Social Affairs Committee, Haleem said the new clinics form part of a broader strategy to ease pressure on major government hospitals and make medical consultations more accessible. Patients with general illnesses will be referred to specialists only if further treatment is required.

Government authorities are coordinating efforts to implement this plan, as Health Ministry data shows that the emergency department at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) sees over 400 patients daily, with nearly 300 of those cases suitable for GP-level care.

To strengthen primary healthcare, the Government plans to establish four GP clinics across the Malé region.

Haleem also revealed that the Malé Group of Hospitals is working to introduce telemedicine services to make consultations more convenient, especially for patients travelling from the atolls. Through this system, patients will first attend an online consultation before visiting a doctor in Malé, significantly reducing travel costs and improving efficiency.

The telemedicine platform is currently being piloted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and local service providers in selected atolls. It will use the latest technology to ensure high-quality remote consultations and improved access to specialist care nationwide.