The Malé City Group of Hospitals (MCGH) Chief Executive Officer Abdul Razzaq Haleem has announced plans to establish an additional catheterisation laboratory at Dharumavantha Hospital.

Speaking to MMTV, Haleem said a hybrid cath lab is already in operation at Dharumavantha Hospital, with an additional lab planned to expand services.

The existing facility currently operates with a single-plane system, while the new lab will be equipped with a biplane system, allowing for more advanced and complex procedures to be carried out.

Haleem said funding for the project has been secured, with installation of equipment to follow. The new cath lab is expected to become operational in the third quarter of this year. He also noted that the cath lab at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) requires upgrading.

The CEO added that preparations for the new facility are already underway, with space allocated and ready for equipment installation. The introduction of a biplane system is expected to improve the hospital’s ability to perform procedures such as spinal and neurological interventions.

In the Maldives, catheterisation laboratories are currently available at Dharumavantha Hospital and the Equatorial Hospital in Addu City.

A catheterisation laboratory, or cath lab, is a specialised unit used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions. The procedure involves inserting a thin tube into blood vessels to assess artery conditions using imaging such as X-rays. Where blockages are identified, treatments including stent placement can be carried out to restore blood flow.