Health Minister Geela Ali has revealed that 60 percent of doctors working in the Maldives are still foreigners. 

Responding to a question posed by Central Mahchangolhi MP Ahmed Zameer in today's parliament sitting, Geela said that even to date, foreigners make up the majority of doctors working in the country. She said that significant administrative challenges are faced in finding replacements when foreign doctors leave service. 

Citing this year's health sector statistics, the minister said that there are over 12,000 health sector professionals in service, of which more than 7,000 are based in the atolls and over 5,000 in capital Male' City. Of the number in Male', over 3,400 are foreigners. 

"Our hope is that our health services will evolve with more Maldivians engaged in the sector. To achieve this, training opportunities are available even now at Maldives National University. The hope is that more Maldivians take up these courses, and join the service," Geela said. 

In a bid to increase locals in the health sector, the government has announced a timeline within which they will stop issuing work permits for foreigners for specified jobs, including nursing.