Councilor Ghalib: Hulhumale’ Hospital services below par despite tertiary upgrade

Ahmed Ghalib, Councilor for North Hulhumalé constituency, has raised serious concerns over the quality of healthcare services at Hulhumalé Hospital, stating that the facility has failed to deliver the standard of care expected despite being officially upgraded to a tertiary hospital by the current administration.

Speaking on SSTV's 'Baaru Hathareh' program, Ghalib said that simply redesignating the facility as a tertiary hospital is insufficient if the services provided do not meet the required professional standards. He stressed that the hospital is currently unable to provide healthcare services consistent with its tertiary classification.

Ghalib also expressed concern that the government is not adequately prepared to meet the healthcare demands of Hulhumalé's rapidly expanding population. However, he clarified that responsibility should not be placed on the hospital's management, noting that staff members are carrying out their duties to the best of their ability despite existing limitations.

"The upgrade was essentially limited to the nameboard; there has been no tangible improvement in the services provided," the Councilor remarked.

He emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Hulhumalé's healthcare system in line with its growing population and questioned why Hulhumalé Phase 2 still lacks a dedicated hospital.

Despite serving an estimated population of 150,000 residents, Hulhumalé Hospital remains the area's only public healthcare facility. The hospital is also considerably smaller in scale than the Regional Hospital in Kulhudhuffushi City.

Although Hulhumalé Hospital was officially inaugurated as a tertiary healthcare facility on November 16, 2024, residents continue to express frustration over prolonged waiting times and delays in accessing medical services.

As part of the upgrade, the hospital introduced several new facilities, including a specialized operation theatre complex comprising four theatres dedicated to orthopedic, ophthalmology, gynecology, and general surgery. Prior to the expansion, the hospital operated with only a single operation theatre.