The Maldives City Group of Hospitals (MCGH) has opened MCGH Opticals outlet at Hulhumalé Hospital, becoming the second Government-run outlet providing affordable eyewear and eye care services.

The new shop was opened on 27 August at a ceremony attended by Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muthathalib and MCGH CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem. The expansion follows the first MCGH Opticals outlet established at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in July, under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s initiative to provide mirror-making services through public hospitals.

According to CEO Haleem, the new service will offer eye screening, prescription lenses, spectacle-making, and checks for conditions such as glaucoma. He noted that both IGMH and Hulhumalé Hospital will now provide spectacles free of charge under the Aasandha scheme.

The introduction of in-house optical services in state hospitals is aimed at easing the financial burden on the public. Previously, Aasandha covered MVR 1,000 for spectacles, but this was increased to MVR 2,000 from June 2025 following a pledge made by President Dr Muizzu on World Health Day.