Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has confirmed that the Maldives is on track to begin practical work on the country’s first specialised cancer hospital, delivering on a key pledge by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
Speaking at the sixth session of the “Ahaa” public forum on Monday night, Minister Nazim announced that all administrative groundwork for the facility has been completed — including technical feasibility assessments and the development of a concept plan. The government is now focused on securing the required funding to commence construction.
“This is not just another promise,” Minister Nazim said. “All preparations on paper are done, and now we are moving urgently towards the implementation phase.”
The long-awaited cancer hospital has been a subject of public interest and concern for over a decade. Minister Nazim acknowledged past delays but assured the public that the current administration views the project as a national priority.
Cancer accounts for 17 percent of all deaths in the Maldives, underscoring the urgent need for specialised treatment infrastructure. The minister also noted that this year’s national budget includes specific allocations for the hospital’s development.
Beyond infrastructure, the government is pursuing an integrated approach to cancer care — including public awareness campaigns and preventative measures. Among them are a proposed generational ban on smoking, a prohibition on e-cigarette imports, and increased tariffs on tobacco products.
Chronic Illness Management Reform
In the same forum, Minister Nazim also announced plans to improve care for patients with chronic illnesses. The Ministry of Health is preparing a national registry of long-term patients and intends to establish a dedicated medicine distribution centre to serve those listed.
“Some medications are only available by prescription, and many patients face difficulty accessing them regularly,” he said. “We are now putting a system in place to ensure hospitals across the country directly issue necessary medications to patients on chronic care.”
In addition to expanding medicine accessibility, the government is enhancing drug quality and governance measures. This includes reforms to the Aasandha prescription portal, updates to clinical treatment guidelines, and improvements in staffing and training of pharmacists through the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and the State Trading Organisation (STO).
Minister Nazim reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the entire healthcare system to ensure better, more consistent services across the country — from specialist care to everyday medicine access.
