Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim has announced that all administrative work required for the establishment of a dedicated cancer hospital in the Maldives has been completed, with practical work expected to begin soon.
The Minister made the announcement while speaking on the ‘Ahaa Forum’, a public engagement programme aimed at facilitating direct interaction between government officials and the public.
Speaking on the forum, Minister Nazim said the government attaches great importance to providing treatment opportunities to cancer patients. The minister confirmed that all the administrative work required to build the first cancer hospital in the Maldives has been completed, including the technical feasibility and development of a concept plan. The government is currently seeking financial assistance for the implementation phase, he said.
"All the necessary preparations on paper have been completed. The technical feasibility of the project has been considered and the concept has been formulated. The practical work of the hospital will start soon,” the Minister said.
The Health Minister also highlighted the measures taken by the government to encourage the public to focus on cancer prevention. This includes measures to distance the society from cancer-causing habits such as smoking, including the introduction of a generational ban on smoking, banning the import of e-cigarettes and increasing import duties on cigarettes.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had earlier announced that the development of a cancer hospital in the Maldives will commence this year. He made the announcement at an official ceremony held on the occasion of the Republic Day last year. This year's budget also includes funds for the construction of a cancer hospital.