Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem has revealed laboratory services will soon be available in all the islands of the Maldives.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister Naseem noted the priority of the administration in bringing major changes to develop and decentralise the health sector. As such, the minister said efforts are underway to establish laboratory services in health centres in all parts of the country.
Additionally, the Quality Assurance Commissioner at the Ministry of Health Thasleema Usman said services at the current laboratories will be expanded, adding services at the tertiary hospitals have been upgraded to the highest level. She detailed that histopathology services are now available at tertiary hospitals and that molecular biology services will soon be made available in those facilities. She also noted efforts are underway to allow islands without laboratory services to transport samples to the nearest laboratory, which would be greatly aided by the establishment of the national high-speed ferry network. She added efforts to establish laboratory services will prioritise quality in the level of research.
Currently, over 90 laboratories are providing services in the atolls. The government has begun preparations to expand health centres and establish laboratories in some islands.