Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has stated today that this government's health policies are based on established scientific findings. 

In his World Health Day address, the minister said the government's health policy is testament to its commitment to science-based treatment and care. 

Nazim said that the government's initiatives, such as primary health care, preventive care, tobacco cessation measures, early detection of non-communicable diseases, overcoming anti-microbial resistance, prevention of the spreading of TB and HIV, vaccination, maintenance of health records, telemedicine and telehealth, and all related policies are rooted in medical science findings. 

Nazim noted that maintaining trust in science will yield real benefits. 

The theme for World Health Day 2026 is "Together for health. Stand with science."

The importance of the theme, the Minister said, is ensuring that all measures taken to promote health and wellbeing stem from established research, technical knowledge and expertise, and scientific findings. 

Nazim said that Maldives consistently accepts the advice of WHO, UN and other organizations who make decisions based on science. The advancements Maldives has seen through following advice from such organizations demonstrate the importance of following the scientific path in promoting a sustainable healthy community, he added. 

The minister warned of a troubling rise in misinformation about diseases, their spread, treatments, and vaccines, including false claims and promotion of unproven alternatives. 

He stated that doing so is highly irresponsible, and could pose a threat to life. 

"The Covid-19 pandemic, which proved to Maldives, and the world why science must guide health services and disease detection, and the policies we used to overcome it remain vivid in our memory," Nazim said.