President takes action after Thalassemia patients protest
On Saturday evening, protesters raised concerns over Maldivian Blood Services' (MBS) failure to provide essential services.
President Mohamed Muizzu visited the National Thalassaemia Centre Sunday morning after a protest by Thalassemia patients and their families.
Thalassemia patients and their families staged a protest on Saturday calling for the resignation of the leadership of Maldivian Blood Services (MBS).
During his visit, the president met patients, listened to their concerns, and observed daily operations to improve thalassaemia care.
The president met with the patients present at the blood transfusion centre and listened to their concerns. He assured them that the administration would act to resolve these issues and take steps to find solutions to the problems as soon as possible.
The president also met with the staff and inspected the condition of the centre. He then directed the heads of the relevant agencies to take necessary measures as soon as possible.
On Saturday evening, protesters raised concerns over the organisation’s failure to provide essential services, including the unavailability of medicines, malfunctioning equipment, and the disposal of blood packets due to filter failures.
Prior to the protest, several individuals expressed their concerns on social media. MBS management held discussions with some individuals tonight; however, some participants stated that those who voiced the most concerns were not included in the meeting.
Since January 2024, MBS has stopped issuing medicines directly to thalassemia patients, requiring them to obtain them from pharmacies instead. Patients and their families have highlighted difficulties in accessing necessary treatment following this change.
