Minister of the President’s Office Ahmed Sameer has said the changes brought by the government to the decentralisation system are having a positive impact on the health sector.
Speaking on PSM News, Minister Sameer said the health sector is heading towards a revolutionary change. The minister said the citizens of Maldives have to travel to the capital city at a high cost for health services and they have to rely on the services provided in Male' City every time. Therefore, the most important policy of this government is to empower the people through decentralization, he said, adding that the positive impact of the changes brought by the government to the decentralisation system is being seen in the health sector.
Additionally, Minister Sameer said the development of tertiary hospitals in different parts of the country is creating many job opportunities. The minister said that more than 100 jobs have already been advertised in Raa Atoll alone. He said that many efforts are being made to revive the stagnant public health sector in addition to projects to develop health infrastructure. As such, he also noted that the health sector is being closely monitored by the Policy Office of the President’s Office.
Furthermore, Minister Sameer said the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) high-speed ferry system has made travel for health purposes easier. He said the government is also giving special priority to further developing and expanding the field of telemedicine. He said the Maldives has learned a lot from the COVID-19 pandemic, adding telemedicine is an area that can be further developed in the country.
One of the biggest expenditures of the government on infrastructure development projects is in the health sector. As such, several projects are currently being implemented in different areas to improve the quality of health services in the atolls in the Maldives.