Govt terminates 16 health projects over lack of progress: Minister

The government has terminated 16 health sector projects initiated during the previous administration due to a lack of progress, Health Minister Geela Ali said on Monday.

Geela disclosed the information while responding to questions from MPs after being summoned to the People's Majlis over matters relating to the health sector.

During the sitting, an MP asked the minister about the condition of the health sector under the previous Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration.

Geela said the previous government had initiated a number of health projects and made advance payments to contractors. However, she said work on some of the projects had not progressed despite the passage of time.

As a result, the current administration has terminated 16 projects, she said.

Geela identified the hospital project in HA. Ihavandhoo as one of the contracts that had been terminated.

"One of those hospitals is HA. Ihavandhoo Hospital. Funds were disbursed for that project as well. However, as the work could not proceed, we terminated that project in March," Geela said.

According to the minister, MVR 60 million was paid in advances for the health projects during the previous administration.

She said the legal procedures required to recover the money have yet to be completed.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem, who was presiding over the sitting, said issues involving advance payments for projects were being referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

Saleem, a member of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), said the committee would examine the matter.