President Mohamed Muizzu announced today that the government has decided to fund the construction of a mental health hospital in Male' using the state budget, following prolonged delays in securing a concessional loan from India for a similar facility previously planned for Laamu Gan.
His remarks come amid intensifying public debate over mental healthcare following several recent incidents. Establishing a dedicated mental health hospital was a key campaign pledge of Muizzu. In last year’s Presidential Address, he had noted that preparations were underway for three hospitals, including this one, to be built with Indian loan assistance.
Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office more than a year after those initial remarks, Muizzu stated that extensive efforts had been made to initiate the project through the loan.
"However, because the procedures are so lengthy, we have been unable to secure the loan or begin this project—or any similar projects—leading to delays. Since this is a critical issue in the Maldives requiring urgent support, we have now decided, after internal discussions, to build this mental health facility directly through the government budget," Muizzu said.
He further clarified that the Male' mental health hospital project would be financed through the government’s New Policy Initiatives (NPI) budget for the current year.
While he did not disclose the exact cost of the new project, the President noted that the original proposal for the hospital in Gan was valued at USD 18 million, suggesting that the Male' project would be more cost-effective.
Despite the shift to Male', the President stated that a final decision has not yet been made regarding the proposed hospital in Laamu Gan. However, he emphasized that Male' is a more strategic location for the facility.
"Malé City and this region have the highest population density, and it is where we see the highest number of children facing these issues," President Muizzu said.
Muizzu reiterated the administration's commitment to prioritizing mental health. He highlighted the inclusion of mental health treatments under the Aasandha national health insurance scheme as a significant milestone achieved thus far.
He revealed that work is underway to draft a Mental Health Bill. He also announced that an "Anti-Bullying" law is being developed to legally criminalize bullying, identifying it as a major contributing factor to mental health challenges.
