The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has reported a sharp increase in stroke cases, treating 532 patients in its neurology department over the past year. The figures have heightened concern among medical professionals, who warn of a troubling rise in neurological disorders nationwide, particularly among younger Maldivians.
The statistics were presented by Dr Ahmed Rasheed, the country’s first neurologist, during the inauguration of a new specialised centre for neurological diseases and stroke at Dharumavantha Hospital. He noted that the neurology department admitted 1,089 patients last year, including 557 treated for general neurological illnesses, seizures, and related conditions, alongside the 532 admitted for stroke.
Seventy percent of those strokes were ischaemic, caused by blockages in blood vessels in the brain, while the remaining 30 percent were haemorrhagic, the result of ruptured vessels. Dr Rasheed highlighted a divergence from global patterns: internationally, women often constitute the majority of stroke patients, but in the Maldives men accounted for 70 percent of admissions, compared with 30 percent for women.
Age distribution data revealed that 61 percent of patients were between 61 and 80 years old. Yet Dr Rasheed expressed particular alarm over early-onset cases, reporting that 40 percent of patients were under the age of 40, a figure he described as “deeply regrettable.”
The department’s outpatient services reflected similar pressures. Dr Rasheed reported that 9,400 individuals consulted doctors last year, with the stroke clinic conducting more than 700 follow-up appointments and 908 neurological diagnostic tests.
The newly inaugurated National Centre for Neuroscience and Stroke at Dharumavantha Hospital is intended to transform care nationwide. The centre, already equipped with advanced resources, is expected to introduce robotic technology for brain and spinal surgeries in the coming phase, as part of its effort to establish a unified national network that ensures rapid treatment and expands access to high-quality neurological care across the country.