Pakistan provides assistance for cancer treatment in Maldives

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre of Pakistan has agreed to provide assistance for cancer awareness, prevention and treatment in Maldives.

The MoU between SKMH and Maldivian government was signed in a ceremony held at Ministry of Health this Monday by Minister of Health of Maldives – Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim and Pakistani Ambassador to Maldives - Vice Admiral (Retired) S Syed Khawar Ali Shah.

Speaking to press after signing the MoU, Minister Nazim said establishment of a cancer treatment system in Maldives was a great wish of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, and that Ministry of Health, Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), and other health agencies were working on fulfilling the wish.

Nazim said that with the agreement, SKMH will provide training to doctors and nurses of cancer patients working in Maldives.

He said that SKMH will also provide technical assistance to the National Cancer Registry being compiled by Health Protection Agency.

SKMH will also provide assistance for cancer research in Maldives.

Minister Nazim said the government wanted to widen the scope of healthcare services in the country and improve the quality of healthcare services being provided in Maldives.

He said the government was going through with important plans to start healthcare services which are currently unavailable from the country.

Nazim noted the cardiac center set up in IGMH, and said that 500 patients had been treated from the center so far.

He also noted the additional facilities and services which was launched by IGMH last Sunday night; including an upgraded Intensive Care Unit with additional beds.

Speaking to press, Ambassador Syed Khawar Ali Shah commended the work being done to upgrade the Maldivian health sector.

“Maldivian government is working hard to strengthen the heath system. With this agreement, SKMH will provide assistance to Maldives for resource development in oncology," he said.

The ambassador said he hoped to see a medical college established in Maldives.