Government contracts development of two tertiary hospitals

The government has contracted two SOEs to build two hospitals and expand space to provide tertiary level services.

The project is contracted for a total cost of MVR 316 million.

In a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health today, agreements were signed with RDC and MTCC to develop R. Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, Lh. Naifaru Hospital and GDh. Thinadhoo's AbduSamad Memorial Hospital on a design and build model.

MTCC Managing Director Ahmed Saudhi and State Minister for Health Ahmed Gasim signed the agreement to construct a new building to develop the Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital to tertiary level. This project, due for completion within 17 months, cost MVR 161,245,343.

MTCC was also contracted to expand space at the AbduSamad Memorial Hospital to develop it to tertiary level. This project, too, is due for completion in 17 months and costs MVR 147,437,643.

RDC Deputy Managing Director Mohamed Asbah Ali Naseer and State Minister for Health Ismail Shareef signed an agreement to develop a labour room complex and ICU at the Naifaru Hospital. This project is for MVR 7.7 million, and is due for completion within one year.

After signing the contracts, Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said that the two regional hospitals, once developed, will be equipped with the facilities to provide all tertiary level services.

He said that more hospitals will be developed across the atolls in the future.

After the ceremony, Director General of Health Sciences Dr Ahmed Ashraf said that some of the main ailments for which people are transferred to Male' for treatment are kidney, heart and nerve diseases. Hence, the tertiary hospitals will be equipped to treat such diseases, he said.

He said that different hospitals will be developed to offer different specialized services.

Developing hospitals across the atolls to tertiary level will decrease the need for patients to travel to Male' City for medical reasons, and provide more prompt treatment options, he said.