Dharumanvantha Hospital has launched the sea ambulance service between Male' and Villimale'.
The agreement was signed by Minister of Health Dr. Abdulla Khaleel and CEO of Dharumavantha Hospital Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem on behalf of the Male' City Group of Hospitals. In addition, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen presented a commemorative key for the sea ambulance at the ceremony.
Villimale' Hospital provides 24-hour services and has a five-bed emergency room and three inpatient rooms. The hospital provides a limited number of services and does not have an operation threatre. Specialist doctors from IGMH travel to Villimale' Hospital to treat patients in need of specialist treatment and those who need emergency treatment are transported to IGMH. However, a sea ambulance had never been used for emergency services.
At the ceremony, Minister Khaleel said the new sea ambulance to be used between Male' and Villimale' is more spacious than other sea ambulances. He also said that additional equipment will be installed on the vessel to expand emergency services. He further highlighted the project to develop a 100-bed hospital in Villimale' and said that fieldwork will begin this year.
Also at the ceremony, Minister Ameen said it was regrettable that a sea ambulance service between Male' and Villimale' was not launched until now. He expressed confidence that the new service will be a convenient method of emergency transport for patients.
Speaking to PSM News after the ceremony, CEO of Dharumavantha Hospital Haleem said it will come as a great relief for residents that the sea ambulance service was established before the completion of the bridge connecting Male' to Villimale'. He emphasised that the service was launched after all the necessary arrangements have been made and that it will greatly enhance the hospital's capability to respond to emergency situations. The sea ambulance will be jointly maintained by Villimale' Hospital and IGMH.
Traveling to neighboring islands has long been a challenge for Villimale' residents, particularly during rough seas. Typically, residents either rent a boat or rely on the ferry service in urgent medical situations. It is often difficult to secure a speedboat quickly during emergencies. However, the government anticipates that the sea ambulance will alleviate these challenges.