Minister of Health Dr Abdulla Khlaeel has said that efforts are underway to once again obtain funding from Kuwait Fund for the project of constructing hospitals consisting of 30 beds in seven islands.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has earlier said that the Kuwait Fund had withdrawn some funds they had extended for this project due to the former government not utilizing the funds as intended for an extended period and the subsequent delay in commencing the projects.
With Dr Khaleel being present in parliament today to address queries posed by MPs, Velidhoo MP Mohamed Shafeeq asked him to explain the reason why the construction of a 30 bed hospital in Velidhoo had been halted.
In response, Dr Khaleel stated that the funds offered by Kuwait Fund had been withdrawn. The minister, however, did not offer reasons behind the withdrawal.
The Minister further revealed that the previous government had continued the project through the State budget, adding that this year's budget did not include fund allocations to allow for such continuation.
Milandhoo MP Ali Riza also questioned the Minister about the hospital pledged to be built in that island. He declared that the site for the hospital had been cleared and work initially commenced, but currently the contractors had stopped work and left the island.
Once again, Dr Khaleel offered as explanation that this, too, was due to the withdrawal of funding from Kuwait Fund.
"That hospital, too, was planned to be built under this same project financed under what was to be received from Kuwait Fund. However, once Kuwait Fund withdrew that funding, the projects could not be continued," he explained.
Although the government maintains that Kuwait Fund had halted funding due to the previous government's failure to comply by the agreement in proceeding with the project, then Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer begs to differ.
He maintains that the project, worth about MVR 680 million, had been delayed due to political uncertainties that arose in Kuwait during that time. He said that the Kuwait Fund, too, was affected by this, with changes being brought to its management who remained to take a decision on the issuance of the loan even when the previous government had left office.
Ameer states, however, that there was no indication of bringing a halt to the project.
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