Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has stated that the Government is working to resolve long-standing challenges in the country’s health sector through policy reforms and targeted budget allocations.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office, the minister said several structural issues have persisted in the health system for years, including limited space in island health centres, shortages of medical equipment, and the lack of adequate ambulance services.

Minister Nazim said the Administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has initiated a number of policy measures aimed at addressing these challenges. As part of these efforts, more than 170 infrastructure development projects are currently underway to improve health centres and hospitals across the Maldives.

The minister noted that many health facilities required significant upgrades when the current Administration assumed office and that several centres were in need of repairs, with damaged equipment and beds that had deteriorated due to inadequate maintenance over time.

He also highlighted the shortage of ambulances as a major issue affecting healthcare access in the islands. Minister Nazim said a nationwide initiative to strengthen ambulance services has been launched, under which 56 islands received new ambulances in the past month alone.

The minister added that 14 additional ambulances will be delivered next week, while 17 more islands are scheduled to receive ambulances by the end of March. Specialised ambulances for use in major cities are also expected to be introduced by the end of April.

Minister Nazim further stated that arrangements are being made to outsource the maintenance and repair of ambulances to a private company to ensure the sustainability of the service.

In addition, a MVR 190 million project has been awarded to the State Trading Organization (STO) to procure and upgrade essential equipment required for health centres across the country. The procurement process for the project is currently underway.

The minister emphasised that sustainable investment and consistent policy implementation are essential to addressing systemic challenges in the health sector. He said neglecting these areas or failing to allocate sufficient funding could lead to long-term consequences for the country’s healthcare system.