Health Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel has said that the government is working to improve the health services in the areas where local tourism is expanding.
Responding to a question by Huraa MP Dr. Anara Naeem in Parliament today, Khaleel said tourism is expanding in Male' atoll, Felidhe atoll and Ari atoll. He said work was ongoing to develop some health services in the islands of those atolls.
"In islands without laboratories, in some islands, we are looking at the population, the ratio of doctor visits, patient turnover and we are working on setting up a full-fledged laboratory in the facility on those islands," he stated.
The minister said the laboratories would be set up on some islands with the assistance of the Chinese government.
He added that the quality of emergency treatment services in islands near Male' will also be improved with the aim of stabilizing the patients and taking them to a better facility. He said the state cannot afford to set up operation theatres in all islands.
"Especially since these islands are very close to Male', after the patient is stabilized if the ER facility is strong, we will be able to arrange for the patient to be transferred to a better quality service centre,” Khaleel said.
He noted that some health centers in the region are being designed accordingly.
