President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the National Disability Service and Therapy centre is set to be established, providing a wide array of therapy services.
He stated this while delivering this third Presidential Address in the Parliament's opening session of 2026, revealing that therapy services will also be expanded to the atolls. The National Disability Service and Therapy centre will be developed in Hulhumale’.
While therapy is a crucial form of healthcare currently limited to Male’ region, reliable and sufficient service for intended recipients is not most easily accessible in government hospitals, as well as private clinics and hospitals. This centre aims to address this problem, expanding services and bring a much needed improvement to the existing healthcare system.
“The practical work for the construction of a state-of-the-art therapy centre, providing all forms of therapy, God willing, will begin in the middle of this year. Concurrently, branches of this centre will be developed in all cities.” The President stated.
Therapy services are covered by Aasandha, the national social health insurance scheme from 1st January 2026, as finalised by President Muizzu. During his presidential address, he stated this decision will be re-examined and that a certain portion of therapy will be provided from the centre itself.
Human resources in the therapy sector are limited in the Maldives, with a nationwide government initiative working to tackle this shortage this year.
“In order to develop 250 Maldivians in this field, degree-level education and training courses will be administered, and graduates will be under an employment contract to create Maldivian therapists under a national initiative, God willing within March of this year.” President Muizzu has stated.
The president has finalised the decision to bring about 50 therapists within the next 6 months to address the current lack of therapists, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, behavioural therapists, physiotherapists and psychotherapists.