Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has said today that around 1,900 new staff will be hired for the health sector by the end of the year. 

In a press conference held at the President's Office today, Nazim responded to a question from a reporter saying that last year, around 1,700 new staff were hired. 200 new jobs will be created this year to provide service in Male' and the atolls, he added. 

The new staff will be hired in areas such as provision of basic services and laboratory work, he said. 

The health sector has thousands of people working in it, many of whom are expatriates. 

The government, however, has previously announced that from December 2028 onwards, work permits will not be issued to foreigners to work in nursing. 

Nazim said that more individuals completing training and joining the health sector will contribute towards resolving the current challenges. 

"I appeal to Maldivian students, this is a broad sector. Pursuing education in this field and providing service will be a huge service to the nation," Nazim said. 

Nazim said that a batch of students at the Medical School in Maldives National University are nearing graduation. The MNU Medical School was opened 8 years ago. Nazim said that the government is securing internships for these graduate doctors at various hospitals. 

He stressed that more doctors and nurses are still urgently needed, noting that it takes a minimum of six years for even a general practitioner to complete training and begin service. 

Nazim asserted that as more doctors complete their training and come into service, the health sector will see progress step by step.