Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH) is working to introduce paramedic ambulance services in Addu City within this year, according to the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Adeel Naseer.
Dr Adeel said recruitment efforts are currently underway to establish the service, which is expected to strengthen emergency medical care and improve pre-hospital treatment for patients involved in serious accidents and medical emergencies.
The development comes as demand for emergency healthcare services continues to grow in Addu City, particularly following the expansion of road networks and increasing vehicle use across the city.
Addu, home to one of the country's largest populations, has experienced a rise in road traffic accidents in recent years. Health officials say accident-related cases frequently place pressure on emergency services at AEH.
Speaking on PSM News’ programme, Dr Adeel noted that although Addu Equatorial Hospital has undergone significant upgrades since its transition from Hithadhoo Regional Hospital, further improvements are needed in emergency response services.
He explained that the absence of dedicated paramedics currently requires nurses to accompany ambulances responding to emergencies.
“Under our current system, when a call is made through the call centre, if an accident occurs in Feydhoo, the Feydhoo Health Centre ambulance will respond. The same goes for Maradhoo. Our staff already respond very quickly to most accidents,” Dr Adeel said.
Despite the challenges, he noted that AEH works closely with health centres across neighbouring islands to ensure patients receive prompt emergency assistance.
According to Dr Adeel, one of the hospital’s priorities this year is the recruitment of paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to establish a dedicated ambulance service capable of providing advanced care before patients reach hospital.
He added that plans are also underway to develop a dedicated Ambulance Complex as part of the hospital’s broader expansion programme.
The introduction of paramedic ambulance services is expected to significantly enhance emergency healthcare delivery in Addu by ensuring patients receive professional medical treatment at the scene of an incident and during transport to hospital.
Hospital officials believe the initiative, together with the planned Ambulance Complex, will mark a major advancement in emergency medical services available to residents of Addu City and surrounding islands.