New Year Gift: Aasandha health checkups rolled out

Jan 1, 2024, 12:01 PM
Dharumavantha hospital CEO Haleem, NSPA CEO Heena and Aasandha CEO Zeeniya briefing the press. -- Photo: Adhadhu

Dharumavantha hospital CEO Haleem, NSPA CEO Heena and Aasandha CEO Zeeniya briefing the press. -- Photo: Adhadhu

A health checkup service has been introduced today as pledged by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Briefing the press at the public radio building's auditorium, Aasandha Managing Director Aminath Zeeniya said the medical checkup was introduced for a very noble purpose and that packages were devised for identifying dangerous diseases currently spreading in the country.

The age and number of people who sought treatment for serious illnesses over the past three years were taken into consideration in devising the packages along with advice from technical experts, Zeeniya said.

Health checkups can only be performed at government hospitals and centers. Registration will begin with effect on Monday for members of the public to undergo the checkup at a place of their choosing.

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Despite the introduction of the service, only people over the age of 50 can undergo checkups until April. The service was first introduced for the elderly age group as most people suffering from serious illnesses were older, Zeeniya said.

Phases for rolling out medical checkups

  • Age 35 to 49 years: April 1, 2024
  • Age 19 to 49 years: July 1, 2024
  • Children under 19 years: April 1, 2024

The medical checkup includes ECG and tests for blood, urine and feces. It does not include X-rays.

Dharumavantha Hospital CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem said this was "a New Year gift from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu," as a result of which diseases would be prevented and healthcare costs would be reduced from the state budget.

Zeeniya said undergoing the medical checkup was important and that the second checkup could be done six months after the first one. The checkup process would be completed when a doctor is consulted after the tests.

Health checkup process in Malé region

  • Those who want to perform the checkup at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) have to call 7226614 or visit the counter to make an appointment.
  • On the day of the appointment, the patient will be taken for tests after a memo is created.
  • The patient can leave after the ECG is done and blood samples are taken. The hospital will notify once the results are available and a doctor's consultation will follow.
  • IGMH health checkup appointments can be made on Saturdays and Wednesdays with the checkups done on Sundays and Thursdays. Doctor's consultation will be on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
"But based on demand or how many people make appointments, we will keep increasing the days," Haleem said.
  • 3038520 should be called to make appointments at the Vilimalé hospital.
  • Health checkups in Hulhumalé can only be done at the Hulhumalé hospital's GP Clinic in Hiya flat tower number 16.
  • 1417 should be called for medical checkups in Hulhumalé.
  • The process in Vilimalé and Hulhumalé will be the same as in IGMH.

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