Construction of thalassemia hospital contracted to Malay companies

The Health Ministry on Tuesday signed contracts with three Malaysian companies to develop a designated thalassemia hospital in the Maldives - Sinoma Industry Engineering, Medo Asia, and Chin Hin Construction Engineering.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the Thalassemia and Hematology Hospital in Hulhumale’ Phase II were signed in a ceremony held at CROSSROADS Maldives on Tuesday evening.

The contracts were signed by Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Medo Asia’s Managing Director Stuart J Venner Pack, Chin Hin Construction Engineering’s CEO Roger Lim Swee Kiat, and Sinoma Industry Engineering’s Managing Director Liu Tao.

The design for the hospital unveiled during the ceremony shows it will have an organ transplant unit, a bone marrow transplant unit, a genetic screening and counselling unit, a laboratory, a research and development unit, and an accommodation block.

A 71,000 square foot plot has been allocated from Hulhumale’ Phase II to develop the hospital.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has previously stated that thalassemia as a priority area for his administration, making several pledges to strengthen and expand services for thalassemia patients.

The establishment of a specialized hospital, exclusively for treating thalassemia patients, is part of this.

Back in December, the administration said it discussed allocating a USD 25 million budget for the project.

The administration has also added DNA testing – a carrier screening process used to identify thalassemia inheritance – has been added to the list of treatments covered under the state health insurance scheme – Aasandha.

Additional measures include facilitating government sponsorship for bone marrow transplants for eligible thalassemia patients, providing Aasandha coverage for essential medicines and consumables for thalassemia patients, and ensuring availability of medicines to patients across the Maldives through the State Trading Organization (STO).

Five thalassemia patients will be undergoing bone marrow transplants at state expense this year.

Maldives has over 600 registered thalassemia patients.

Over 300 of them get their transfusions from Male’.