Dr. Ashraf flags doctor shortage and challenges deploying specialists to atolls

Maldives needs more local doctors working in the atolls, but significant challenges remain in deploying specialists outside Male' city, Director General of Health Services Dr Ahmed Ashraf has said.

Speaking on PSM’s Raajje Miadhu programme on Tuesday evening, Dr Ashraf said the number of doctors in Maldives is still below the required ratio, and the country’s geographical dispersion makes it difficult to place sufficient medical staff across the islands.

He noted that the number of trained Maldivian doctors has increased in recent years, but the distribution remains heavily concentrated in the capital.

“We need to increase the number of local doctors working in our atolls. Even though we now have trained specialists in areas such as paediatric radiology and neonatal care, we still need more doctors across the country,” Dr Ashraf said.

Dr Ashraf said the ministry plans to expand certain specialised services to the atolls, but this requires training doctors who are prepared to work in rural environments.

“One of our biggest challenges is that most specialists prefer to practise in Male'. This makes it difficult to send specialists to the atolls and maintain consistent services,” he said.

He added that doctors must be encouraged and supported to pursue training that equips them for atoll-level service, noting that this is essential to improving specialised care outside the capital.

Health Minister Geela Ali told Parliament on Monday that 60 percent of doctors currently working in Maldives are foreign doctors. Responding to a question from PNC MP Ahmed Zameer, she said the health system still relies heavily on expatriate professionals.

However, Minister Geela said the number of Maldivian doctors entering the workforce is increasing each year. So far this year, 16 Maldivian doctors have joined Dharumavantha Hospital and IGMH after completing specialist training.