Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has stated the COVID-19 facilities established in the Maldives are sufficient for the current situation in the Maldives.
Speaking at the Parliament of the Maldives to respond to questions posed by parliamentarians, Minister Ameen said a comprehensive list of facilities and equipment required to fight the COVID-19 outbreak was prepared in advance, of which most facilities and equipment have now been established. The minister added although some equipment and facilities in the list are yet to be established due to difficulties in acquiring materials amid the pandemic, the established facilities are sufficient for the current COVID-19 situation.
Further, the health minister noted major development efforts were planned for the health sector this year before the efforts were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he said the administration will ensure uninterrupted healthcare services across the country despite the financial difficulties the country is enduring due to COVID-19.
Revealing details of the development of tertiary hospitals in five regions of the Maldives, Minister Ameen said 90% of the equipment and machinery required for the hospitals have been assembled. Noting the hospitals were originally scheduled to be completed by mid-2020, the minister said the projects suffered delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, he said the target is to complete the project by the end of the year.
The five hospitals which are being developed as tertiary hospitals include Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital, Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, Gan Regional hospital, Thinadhoo Dr. Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital and Addu Equatorial Hospital.