IVF success at national fertility centre

Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, the CEO of the Malé City Group of Hospitals, announced today the birth of the first child conceived via IVF at the National Fertility Centre located in Dharumavantha Hospital.

In a post on the social media platform "X," Haleem shared his joy at hearing the news of the first successful IVF delivery at the facility. He described this milestone as a significant beacon of hope for Maldivian families currently seeking fertility treatments within the country.

"By the grace of Almighty Allah, this historic achievement is a ray of hope for families seeking reproductive healthcare in the Maldives. On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude and congratulations to the team at the National Fertility Centre of this hospital, as well as to the other departments that assisted the team in various ways. We are proud of their tireless efforts," Haleem stated in his post on X.

Haleem further noted that for many years, Maldivian families faced significant financial and psychological burdens due to the necessity of traveling abroad for extended periods to access IVF services. The National Fertility Centre, which was officially inaugurated on November 15, 2024, as part of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s presidential pledges, was established to provide a permanent local solution to these challenges, bringing immense relief and satisfaction to the community.

During his Presidential Address last year, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu expressed profound concern regarding the lack of local access to reproductive healthcare, describing it as a distressing issue for many Maldivian families. 

To address this, he highlighted that beyond establishing the National Fertility Centre, the government has integrated specialized treatments for Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) into the Aasandha scheme. 

This reform ensures that these often-misdiagnosed conditions, which are frequently linked to infertility, receive comprehensive insurance coverage, alleviating the heavy financial burden previously borne by patients.

In addition to these structural healthcare changes, the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) established the Fertility Care Trust Fund to provide direct financial aid for IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies.