Male' City Group of Hospital (MCGH) CEO Ibrahim Haleem has announced that efforts are underway to set up new wards at the Hulhumale' Hospital to increase capacity. 

In an interview with Mihaaru News, Haleem said that beds are being added, and health services are being consistently improved upon. 

The new wards are to be located on the third floor of the hospital. A 28-bed ward will be designated for the paediatric and medical ward. 

The two departments now have 12-beds each. However, when transferred to the new facilities, each department will have more beds and the current beds will be given over for use by those receiving other treatments. 

Haleem said that they are targeting to have the new ward in use by November this year. 

Hulhumale' has a fast-growing population, and residents have frequently raised concerns about the quality of care available at the only State run hospital on the island, including failure to cater to the growing number of residents, and delays in service. 

However, Haleem assured that these concerns have been addressed over the past two and a half years. 

"A recent development brought to the Hulhumale' Hospital is we have expanded the 7-bed ER to now have 14 beds. But the reality is, there are challenges at Hulhumale' Hospital in providing the level of service we wish to to the public. The Hulhumale' Hospital still lacks sufficient bed capacity. We cannot add more beds unless we have an additional building," Haleem explained.