Dhamanaveshi to close as staff reassigned to GP clinics
Dhamanaveshi provides services including childhood vaccinations, growth monitoring, family planning support, counselling and mental health services.
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Authorities have decided to close Dhamanaveshi and transfer its staff to other healthcare facilities under a restructuring of public health services.
Dhamanaveshi provides services including childhood vaccinations, growth monitoring, family planning support, counselling and mental health services.
A staff member speaking to Dhauru on condition of anonymity said employees were informed on Sunday that the centre would close from Thursday.
According to the employee, staff members were told they would be reassigned to General Practice clinics across Malé and Hulhumalé.
The staff member said the decision was communicated during a meeting attended by officials from the Malé City Group of Hospitals and the Ministry of Health.
The meeting reportedly took place at approximately 3:00 p.m. and lasted around one hour.
Employees were also instructed to submit their preferred work locations by 2:00 p.m. on Monday.
Staff members said the short notice created difficulties for employees planning work and family arrangements.
“It is extremely difficult to make a decision on where to relocate within such a short timeframe,” one employee said.
The employee added that many staff members had organised childcare and family schedules around the centre’s existing working hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dhamanaveshi currently employs 35 staff members.
Employees also expressed concern about the timing of the transition ahead of the Eid holidays, noting that they may now be required to work during the holiday period after being reassigned to facilities operated by the Malé City Group of Hospitals.
“We are not objecting to the work itself; we welcome the change. However, implementing such a significant shift suddenly and without prior notice is very difficult,” another staff member said.
According to information obtained by Dhauru, the closure is linked to plans to establish a new GP clinic by combining the existing Dhamanaveshi premises with the adjacent former Thalassemia Centre.
The President's Office has not yet commented on the matter.
