The main government hospital, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), which has been facing space constraints in serving large numbers of patients, is set to get 75 additional beds.
The main government hospital, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), which has been facing space constraints in serving large numbers of patients, is set to get 75 additional beds.
In addition to this, the floors of Dharumavantha Hospital that have so far remained unused is set to be utilized for various hospital purposes.
In a press conference held today by the Male' Hospitals Group, information was shared about various ongoing efforts to expand services at IGMH, Dharumavantha Hospital, Hulhumale' Hospital and Vilimale' Hospital.
One of the most important measures being taken is increasing the bed capacity at IGMH.
IGMH CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem said that when the hospital was opened in 1995, it had had 186 beds. At the time, the population of Male' and Vilimale' was 62,519.
However, in the past 29 years, the population has risen by a 100,000, and yet the bed capacity had only been increased by 130 beds, he said. As per last year's records, 212,138 people are living in the Male' region, with IGMH bed capacity still at 316.
Haleem said that with this in mind, efforts are being made to further increase the bed capacity. In the first instance, 75 beds are to be added now. These 75 beds will be distributed as follows:
- General Ward: 44 beds
- HDU: 15 beds
- Private ward: 14 beds
- Burn unit: 2 beds
These will be arranged after vacating IGMH's admit block.
Haleem said that the addition of these beds will provide convenience to service seekers.
"Those who come to seek services at IGMH will know how difficult it is to get beds. Oftentimes, 16 to 19 patients are kept admitted in the ER because there are no beds available even in the wards. And in this way, sometimes even scheduled surgeries get delayed when an emergency situation arises," Haleem said.
"The other reason is, sometimes surgeries have to be delayed because there are no beds to admit the patient in even post-surgery. Increasing bed capacity is something the management are doing this year with great priority. In that way, in the next few days, 75 beds will be added."
Dharumavantha Hospital, build with MVR 2.2 billion during the former administration of President Abdulla Yameen, is not designed to house medical wards. Instead, the building has private rooms and VIP rooms.
Haleem said that in addition to the 75 beds being added at IGMH, a 16 bed NICU and a 6 bed delivery suite will be set up on the 17th floor of the Dharumavantha Hospital.
The 18th and 19th floor will also see placement of an additional 14 beds.
Adding to this the NICU and ICU beds being placed at the Hulhumale' Hospital, the total bed capacity in Male' region will be raised by 172 beds, Haleem said.
Haleem also pointed out that despite many years having passed since the Dharumavantha Building was contructed, the building has not been made proper use of to date. As an example, he revealed that floors 17 to 19 have remained unused to date, due to constraints in staff numbers and necessary equipment.
"It is a high prioirity of the government to make Dharumavantha Hospital fully functioning within this year. As such, we are now starting with floors 17, 18 and 19," Haleem said.
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