Seven apply to run Addu Hospital catheterization lab

Addu Equatorial Hospital CEO Dr. Ibrahim Yasir announced yesterday that seven individuals have applied to run the hospital's cardiac catheterization laboratory (cath lab). Yasir also said that lab services will begin next month.

A year and a half after the cath lab was set up, the hospital announced that they were looking for qualified individuals to run the lab in June. Seven individuals, a mix of local and international individuals, had applied before the 29th June deadline.

Yasir told Mihaaru News that three individuals have been evaluated and shortlisted, with their information having been sent to the Finance Ministry. The National Tender Board will decide who will run the cath lab.

"Once those procedures come to an end, we're looking to begin work next month," said Yasir.

A Finance Ministry official has stated that they are currently working on deciding who will be running the cath lab.

The cath lab was established in Addu during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration in October 2023. However, the lab remained unused even after two years had passed. Yasir has said in the past that the cath lab would allow them to conduct procedures such as angiography, along with invasive and non-invasive procedures. He also said that the amount of people that would have to be sent to Male' for treatment would decrease.

"Time is of the essence when it comes to heart diseases. Instead of sending people from around Addu and Fuvahmulah to Male', we can quickly treat them here," said Yasir.