India has formally delivered two advanced portable hospital units to the Maldives, marking a significant enhancement of the island nation's emergency medical response capacity and reaffirming New Delhi's commitment to regional health cooperation.
The handover coincided with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day state visit, undertaken at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. The Indian leader's arrival in Malé on Friday morning drew focus to the evolving Indo-Maldives partnership, with public health infrastructure emerging as a key area of engagement.
Referred to as 'Arogya Maitri Health Cubes', the modular platforms are regarded as the world's first fully transportable hospitals. Each unit includes an intensive care unit (ICU), operation theatre, blood diagnostic equipment, X-ray machine, and power generator, configured to provide critical care for up to 200 individuals over a 72-hour period.
Engineered for maximum mobility, the systems can be deployed by helicopter or parachute to remote areas and achieve full operational readiness in just 12 minutes. Supplementary kits and medicines allow customisation for varied scenarios, supporting a range of emergency situations.
Enhancing this capability is the BHISHM app, a digital tool designed to facilitate configuration and monitor equipment inventories. The Maldives Emergency Medical Service, operating under the Ministry of Health, will oversee the integration of the new facilities into the nation's emergency response framework.
India's assistance to the Maldivian health sector has long reflected a sustained and multifaceted approach. Support has extended to the training of medical personnel, development of urban and atoll-based health infrastructure, and provision of emergency resources, including the expedited supply of Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic.