18 new labs, 10 dialysis units opened, but health sector faces major staffing gap

Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim says the Maldives health sector continues to face a significant shortage of doctors and nurses, even as services expand rapidly across the country.

Speaking at a press conference held by the Health Ministry on Thursday, Nazim said the government is establishing new services in islands, including X‑ray facilities, dialysis units and laboratory services, which require trained professionals to operate.

According to the minister, 18 new laboratories have been established in atoll regions since December last year, and 10 islands have begun providing dialysis services over the past two years. Each of these facilities requires at least a physician and a laboratory technician.

Nazim said the Maldives does not yet have enough trained professionals to meet the growing demand, and encouraged more Maldivians to pursue careers in the health sector. He noted that the shortage of skilled workers is a common challenge in developing countries.

“Training people in the health sector is very important to overcome the current challenges. The health sector still needs a large number of doctors and nurses. There are already many foreigners working in the sector,” Nazim said.

He added that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, in his presidential address, announced 250 scholarships to train therapists. The programme is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Maldives National University (MNU) and the Health Ministry.

Nazim previously stated that around 1,700 additional employees have been deployed to health facilities in Male' and the atolls in recent years, but the sector still requires more trained staff to keep pace with expansion.