Services have been offered at the Thalassaemia Centre on a Friday for the first time in its history.
The Thalassaemia Centre first opened on 29 December 1994. The treatment services are vital to the survival of those living with thalassemia. While it has been 31 years since the establishment of a special centre for the treatment of thalassemia in the Maldives, the service has not been available on Fridays in the past. Patients have long requested that services be made available on Fridays as well.
In a post on X, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced that the Thalassaemia Centre has now began operating on Fridays starting 20 February 2026, marking the first time in the centre’s 31-year history that services have been officially provided on that day. He noted that on the first Friday of operations, 14 patients received blood transfusions and five individuals donated blood.
The President further stated that the centre will continue to operate on Fridays even after Ramadan. This decision, he said, will provide residents from the atolls with extended opportunities to access blood transfusion services and make donations over the weekend.
Alleviating the challenges faced by thalassaemia patients and improving access to treatment and care remain key priorities of the administration. The operation and enhancement of services at the centre are directly overseen by the President. The government has arranged a USD 130 monthly allowance for thalassaemia patients, and a dedicated hospital for thalassaemia treatment is also in development.