The amendment states that the requirements for appointment as DG of the Ministry include a minimum MQA Level 9 qualification in allopathic medicine and at least 10 years of experience in the health sector, with at least 4 years spent in management.
An amendment has been proposed to increase the role and responsibility of the Director General of Health Services.
Dr Ahmed Ashraf, who has served in the sector for 14 years, is currently the Director General of Health Services. He was appointed to the post on January 11, 2022, by the former administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The amendment proposed by Henveiru South MP Hussain Imran Latheef on behalf of the government states that the requirements for appointment as Director General of the Ministry of Health include a minimum MQA Level 9 qualification in a specialized field of allopathic medicine.
The new amendment requires at least 10 years of experience in the health sector, with at least 4 years spent in management.
The term for the post of Director General is five years. When the Act comes into force, if any person has been appointed to the post and meets the requirements prescribed by the Act, they shall be deemed to have been appointed from the date the Act came into force.
The responsibilities of DG now include advising the Ministry of Health on policies and legislation required to expand the health sector and advising on obtaining foreign aid to achieve the political and technical health goals of the health sector.
In addition, the role includes consulting institutions to facilitate the development of health workers, acting as a senior technical advisor on disasters in the Maldives, and serving as a senior advisor on health and other matters related to the Ministry of Health.
- Developing strategic business plans and policies to ensure health services are provided sustainably at community and institutional levels
- Collecting statistics and facilitating the use of information and statistics through health informatics
- Collaborating with civil society organizations involved in health-related activities to promote their participation in the most beneficial way for the health sector
- Identifying and providing technical advice on research and analysis required to ensure that policies implemented in the health sector are based on sound information and evidence
The bill further sets out provisions on the basics of preventive care and the establishment of a national health care system.
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