Nucleic acid testing (NAT) has been introduced in the Maldives, with the service beginning at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Male' City Group of Hospitals CEO Ibrahim Haleem announced the launch in a social media post, describing it as a major step towards strengthening the country's blood screening services.

According to Haleem, the technology enables faster and more accurate detection of infectious diseases, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, compared with conventional testing methods.

He said the introduction of NAT marks the beginning of a significant national effort to modernize blood services and bring them in line with international standards.

"The introduction of this service marks the beginning of an important national effort to strengthen the health sector and improve the quality of services provided to the public in line with the policies and pledges of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu," Haleem said.

He added that the introduction of nucleic acid testing is an important milestone in achieving national healthcare standards and supporting the implementation of the Thalassaemia Master Plan over the next 10 years.