Dr Asadh Mohamed Shaheed, a Maldivian anesthesiologist and pain specialist, has been appointed President of the SAARC Association of Anesthesiologists (SAARC‑AA), a role that rotates every two years among member states.
The Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare announced the appointment, noting that the position offers a strategic platform for the Maldives to deepen regional cooperation in anesthesiology, critical‑care training, research and workforce development.
The Ministry said that Dr Asadh’s leadership will enable Maldivian doctors, anesthesia technicians and nurses to engage more closely with experts across the SAARC bloc, facilitating knowledge exchange, joint training programmes and access to technical resources.
Director General of Health Services, Dr Ahmed Ashraf, highlighted the pressing domestic need for specialised anaesthesia personnel as currently only 11 Maldivian‑trained anesthesiologists serve in public hospitals, while the remainder of the workforce comprises expatriates.
Speaking to PSM News after a meeting attended by Minister of Health Geela Ali and senior health officials, Dr Ashraf outlined plans to develop anaesthesia training for nurses and technicians through the Maldivian National University (MNU) School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education.
Discussions with SAARC member associations also explored establishing regional curricula and capacity‑building projects to address the growing demand for anaesthesia services as surgical volumes rise across the atolls.
The Ministry affirmed that Dr Asadh’s tenure will position the Maldives as an active contributor to regional healthcare advancement, leveraging the SAARC‑AA forum to strengthen national anaesthesia and critical‑care capabilities while building a sustainable, locally‑trained specialist workforce.