The government has assured that the procurement of medical equipment and items will proceed without interruptions.
This statement from the incumbent government comes shortly after the president-elect's office warned that some services in local hospitals and health centers are likely to cease owing to a lack of medical equipment.
In response, President's Office Spokesperson Miuvaan Mohamed said that medical equipment and supplies were procured and stocked during the Covid-19 pandemic, which was a comparatively difficult period than the presidential transition.
Miuvaan said that the health sector will function without interruptions.
"Health sector will not come to a stop, procurement efforts of consumables are moving forward as usual," he said.
The spokesperson further cautioned to refrain from making statements based on incomplete data or information.
Earlier, President-elect's office spokesperson Mohamed Firuzul stated that the state typically raises purchase orders (PO) twice a year for disposable medical items, including chemicals and syringes. He added that the second PO for the last half of 2023 has not been raised, raising concerns about potential interruptions in medical supplies.
He further said that hospitals and health centers were currently utilizing emergency stocks, and warned that the services are drawing close to interruption.
"It was observed that if the current conditions prevail, major services in the hospitals and health centers may come to a complete stop by November," Firuzul said.
He further highlighted budget constraints in the largest state-run hospital, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), while the budget for the remainder of 2023 were set only for employee remunerations.
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