An agreement has been signed with two foreign companies to establish a specialised cancer diagnosis and treatment centre in the Maldives, with construction expected to begin this year and finish in December 2028.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday at Dharumavantha Hospital between Hulhumale' Hospital, UK-based Quantum Heights Limited and India’s Ven Vascular Technology Company.
The centre will be developed on a contractor-financed basis as part of a planned 500-bed tertiary hospital in Hulhumale' Phase 2. Construction of the dedicated oncology facility will begin separately this year, according to the statement.
The centre aims to strengthen specialized healthcare services in the Maldives and reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Planned facilities include an emergency room, intensive care unit, inpatient ward, operating theatre and specialized procedure rooms.
Services are expected to include three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, image-guided radiotherapy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, chemotherapy and CT simulation.
The centre will also support cancer surgery and other specialized diagnostic and treatment services.
The initiative will be implemented in phases, with advanced diagnostic technologies, including nuclear medicine and positron-based imaging, planned as part of its development.
Multidisciplinary tumour boards and treatment-planning systems will also be established to support coordinated cancer care.
Radiotherapy services are currently unavailable in the Maldives, forcing some patients to seek treatment overseas. The proposed centre is intended to expand access to specialized treatment within the country and improve continuity of care.
“In addition to the development of physical infrastructure, the project is a long-term investment in specialized medical services, health workforce development, institutional capacity building and prioritized patient care,” the statement said.
The statement added that successful implementation of the project would strengthen the Maldives’ capacity to diagnose and treat cancer and improve care for patients and their families.
