IGMH is offering medical internships, prioritizing students pursuing medicine in the Maldives.
Speaking to Mihaaru News yesterday, the hospital's CEO, Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, said that up to 35 doctors are typically offered internships each year. However, 60 doctors are currently undergoing internships in two batches at IGMH.
Haleem explained that all applicants for the internship program, which began in March last year, were accepted, even though all 39 of them had studied medicine abroad.
Initially, IGMH planned to allocate 15 spots for interns in March to accommodate the first batch of 21 medical graduates from the Maldives National University (MNU). However, the hospital revised its decision to offer opportunities to all applicants. As a result, MNU’s first batch of 21 medical graduates began their one year internships at IGMH last October.
The second batch of MNU medical graduates completed their studies this month, with their internships set to begin early next year. After completing the year-long internship, these doctors will be qualified to enter the practical field.
Haleem emphasised the importance of collaboration between IGMH and MNU, said “While the national university is building talent, we must take their graduates for internships. We have not stopped accepting foreign students, but we will take them only within our capacity.”
He also highlighted the lack of space at IGMH, which treats hundreds of patients daily. Interns frequently access critical areas such as operating theatres and ICUs, which are relatively small and face space constraints.
Despite this, Haleem reiterated that while priority would be given to local students, international students would also be accommodated if capacity allows.
“We want to bring foreign students for internships, but only as many as we can manage,” he said.
Currently, medical internships are only available at IGMH. Interns receive a monthly allowance of MVR 10,000 as per the civil service structure.
Health Ministry has approved ADK Hospital, the largest private hospital in the Maldives, to begin offering internships from January next year.
However, interns at ADK will be required to pay MVR 14,500 per month. ADK’s Managing Director, Ahmed Afaal, said that significant costs are involved in running an internship program.
“Supervising and assessing interns requires hiring specialist doctors, who must be paid salaries. Additionally, there are high costs for consumables, operating the training school, and other expenses,” Afaal said.
He noted that the fee submitted to the Health Ministry had already been reduced.
He said that in many countries, doctors pay hospitals to complete their internships.
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