President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has directed relevant agencies to urgently identify and procure the equipment and resources needed to run the National Thalassemia Centre as a hospital, following concerns raised by families over inadequate services.
The President has pledged to oversee the necessary changes personally to ensure that all the difficulties faced by thalassemia patients are resolved.
Less than twenty-four hours after thalassemia patients and their families voiced their concerns, the President visited the centre and observed its daily operations. He met with patients and listened to their grievances, and assured them that the administration would swiftly address their concerns.
The President also met with the staff and inspected the condition of the centre. He then directed the heads of the relevant agencies to take necessary measures as soon as possible.
The President also visited the Orange Hiya building in Hulhumale’, which is being prepared to replace the National Thalassaemia Centre. During his visit, he assessed the construction progress and discussed the transition process. The President emphasised the need for a smooth relocation, ensuring that patients and service seekers face no disruptions during the trasition. He also stressed the importance of close coordination with those receiving treatment to maintain accessibility and continuity of care.
Since 2017, the Thalassemia Centre has been run without a Director-General. The President has asked for an immediate solution to rectify the situation, and also directed the immediate recruitment of additional nurses to address a nurse shortage, and to arrange a senior physician for the centre. He also asked to procure essential medical equipment and laboratory facilities. He assured that there are no financial obstacles to bring the necessary changes. The President also directed that the centre’s operational hours to be aligned with those of a hospital, similar to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.
The Minister of FInance and Planning Moosa Zameer also participated in the discussions. He assured that arrangements have been made to resolve all the issues without any financial difficulties to implement the improvements. He said relevant authorities have been granted a specific time period to fulfil the President’s instructions.
"We were unaware that this was the situation, and that no progress had been made. Government officials met with stakeholders related to Thalassemia patients about a year ago. Written records show that a few meetings were held to share information. However, there has been no practical action. Therefore, we have decided to bring about the necessary internal changes as well. Hopefully, these changes will be implemented in the coming days. We will continue to enhance services for as long as the thalassemia centre is run in Male’. We have also inspected the progress of the relocation to Hulhumale’,’ he stated.