Ministry of Health has announced it will begin sending 20 ambulances to various islands within the next three days.
The government in June tasked State Trading Organisation (STO) to procure 96 ambulances needed in the atolls. The health ministry stated it will begin transferring the first shipment of ambulances brought in by STO after the administrative tasks are completed.
A total of 20 ambulances were brought to the Maldives on October 7. The government stated 20 additional ambulances will be brought in within a month and another 20 ambulances will also be brought afterwards. The Spokesperson at the President's Office Mohamed Mabrook Azeez had stated 60 ambulances will be put into service by the end of the year.
Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem had earlier stated the ambulances are expected to solve the challenges faced in providing health care services in the atolls. The minister highlighted ambulance services should be available on every inhabited island and said some islands have been unable to provide adequate emergency services due to breakdown of their ambulances. He said the new ambulances will assist health professionals in providing emergency services following injuries or accidents in the atolls.
Additionally, the Government of Japan has donated USD 3 million to the Maldives for the procurement of sea ambulances, to support the government's efforts to improve healthcare services in the atolls.