The government has allocated MVR 10.2 billion for healthcare in 2027.

Presenting the 2027 state budget in Parliament today, Finance Minister Hassan Zareer said quality healthcare was essential to the country’s future.

Minister Zareer said the government would establish the Maldives Tertiary Hospitals Group next year as part of efforts to improve health service delivery and efficiency.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said on PSM’s Nation Chat podcast last night that the Male' City Group of Hospitals would be dissolved and replaced by a new group to strengthen services and reduce costs.

He said work was also under way to improve the quality of atoll hospitals and island health centres, enabling people to access quality healthcare closer to where they live. Hospitals would be connected under the new system within three to four months, he said.

Minister Zareer said the government would also prioritize the procurement of medical supplies and equipment through a more comprehensive system.

He said the government aimed to strengthen medicine procurement through State Pharma and improve access to essential medicines and medical consumables.

The 2027 budget will also prioritize services and equipment including decompression chambers, X-ray machines, CT scanners and MRI machines, as well as dental care, ear, nose and throat services, and genecology and obstetrics.

The government has proposed a total budget of MVR 59.7 billion for 2027, MVR 4.5 billion less than this year’s budget.