A different pay structure is one reason for the shortage of mental health professionals working in the Maldives, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) CEO Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem has said.
Haleem told Adhadhu in an exclusive interview that there were challenges in offering treatment from IGMH's Mental Health Center and there were also complaints from healthcare workers in the field.
One of the biggest concerns of mental health workers is discontent over the pay structure, which was one reason behind the low number of professionals in the field, Haleem said. In addition to doctors who treat mental illnesses, the Maldives also has a shortage of therapists of various kinds, which was due to problems with the pay structure, he said.
"There are few people who have professionally studied or been trained. Few people are also interested in the field. One reason for that is seen to be the difference in the pay structure for mental healthcare providers. We have heard complaints and concerns about it. We have shared them with the Pay Commission as well as with the ministry. We're hoping for an adequate solution," Haleem said.
Haleem expected the number of workers in the field to rise if concerns over pay were addressed.
As people who seek treatment for mental illnesses require therapy sessions for long periods, the low number of trained professionals poses difficulties. Patients need to restart sessions after completing a set number of days, which causes new patients to stay on a waiting list or queue, Haleem said.
"Therapy sessions need to be given at regular intervals until a certain number of sessions are reached. If therapy needs to be given two days later after it is given today, then it has to be given two days later. We can't wait a week or a month. If it happens that way, there's no need to give therapy either," Haleem said.
Many psychology graduates choosing to work in other fields after completing higher education is also a challenge, he said.
"You have to have an interest in the field no matter the field in which you pursue higher education. There are people who are very committed as well. But there are people I know as well who are working in a completely different field after studying psychology," the CEO said.
Despite the challenges in providing treatment, IGMH is providing the best service possible within the current capacity, Haleem said.
A center for mental health treatment at a government hospital was first established at IGMH in 2019. In 2022, a similar center was set up at the Hulhumale' hospital, which continues to provide mental health treatment.
