Maldives allocates MVR 10 billion for healthcare in 2027 budget
Zareer said the allocation would support reforms to healthcare delivery, hospital management and the procurement of medical supplies.
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The government has allocated MVR 10 billion for the healthcare sector in its proposed 2027 state budget, with plans to establish a tertiary hospitals group, centralise medical procurement and expand specialist services across the Maldives.
Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Hassan Zareer announced the allocation on Thursday while presenting the budget to Parliament.
Zareer said the government was prioritising the development of a healthcare system capable of providing quality medical services throughout the country.
He said the allocation would support reforms to healthcare delivery, hospital management and the procurement of medical supplies.
Tertiary hospitals group to be established
The government plans to establish the Maldives Tertiary Hospitals Group, bringing together existing tertiary hospitals and hospitals being upgraded to tertiary care standards.
Zareer said the initiative was intended to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve the quality of treatment available to patients in different parts of the country.
"This will provide further support to efforts to improve the quality of treatment available to patients across the Maldives," he said.
The minister did not provide details of the proposed group's management structure or specify which hospitals would be included.
Centralised procurement of medical supplies
The government also plans to introduce a centralised system for procuring medical consumables and equipment required by hospitals.
Zareer said the initiative would form part of efforts to improve procurement arrangements and ensure the availability of medical supplies.
The government also intends to strengthen the procurement of medicines through the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (State Pharma).
"Another objective is to strengthen the procurement of medicines through State Pharma, reduce costs and improve access to essential medicines and medical consumables," Zareer said.
The proposed changes are intended to reduce expenditure while improving the availability of medicines and supplies across healthcare facilities.
Expansion of diagnostic and specialist services
The healthcare allocation will also support the expansion of diagnostic and specialist medical services in different parts of the Maldives.
Zareer said the government planned to establish decompression chambers in regional locations and expand access to X-ray, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services.
The budget will also support the expansion of specialist treatment, including dental care, treatment for ear, nose and throat conditions, and women's health, maternity and reproductive healthcare services.
The minister said these initiatives were intended to improve access to medical treatment outside the capital and strengthen healthcare services across the atolls.
The MVR 10 billion allocation forms part of the government's proposed MVR 59.7 billion budget for 2027, which was submitted to Parliament on Thursday.
