Telemedicine services to launch in Kulhudhuffushi and Nilandhoo

Telemedicine services will soon be launched in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi and F. Nilandhoo, enabling patients to consult with doctors from Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) without having to travel to Malé.

The announcement was made during a meeting of the Social Affairs Committee of the People’s Majlis on Monday, where members raised concerns over the difficulties faced by island residents in accessing timely medical consultations in the capital.

In response to a question by North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu), IGMH Medical Director Dr. Aminath Zeyba Ahmed said the new system will address some of the most pressing challenges in patient access.

“Even when people come to Malé for treatment, they often cannot get tests or consultations done quickly. With the introduction of telemedicine, these delays can be significantly reduced,” Dr. Zeyba said.

She noted that trial runs of the system were conducted this week in both regions. The service is being introduced in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

“These are high-end, sophisticated systems. We are able to listen to the patient's heartbeat and lung sounds remotely through connected devices. It’s a very advanced setup,” said Dr. Zeyba, who is also an emergency medicine specialist.

According to Dr. Zeyba, the system will allow patients to attend follow-up consultations with specialists such as cardiologists without returning to Malé. A weekly schedule will be arranged, with each specialty assigned to specific days, functioning similarly to a regular outpatient clinic.

“The vision is to establish telemedicine services across regional and atoll hospitals so that patients do not need to stay in Malé for extended periods for routine reviews,” she added.

While previous governments have made efforts to expand telemedicine, nationwide implementation has remained limited. At present, some private clinics offer online consultations. Additionally, the Cancer Centre at Hulhumalé Hospital, developed in partnership with India’s Amrita Hospital, offers virtual consultations for registered patients.

The government has expressed hopes that the system will ease the burden on patients and improve access to healthcare across the country.