New ambulances have been handed over to hospitals and health centres across 56 islands, as part of a Government initiative to improve emergency medical services in the atolls.

The handover took place at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health on Sunday, where the Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim, presented the keys to representatives of atoll hospitals and health centres. According to the Ministry, the new vehicles will replace ageing and unserviceable ambulances currently in use.

The procurement is part of a project valued at MVR 65.3 million, under which ambulances are being provided to 56 islands. Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) was contracted to procure the ambulances in 2025 and will deliver all vehicles to the Maldives in three phases.

The Ministry also announced that ambulance services will be further expanded this year, with additional ambulances to be deployed to 31 islands, alongside 10 paramedic ambulances designated for the Greater Malé Region and major cities.

Ensuring sustainable and reliable ambulance services across all islands of the Maldives remains a key priority of the current Administration, aimed at improving timely access to emergency healthcare nationwide.