An additional cardiac catheterisation laboratory will be established at Dharumavantha Hospital, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Malé City Group of Hospitals, Abdul Razzaq Haleem.
At present, catheter lab services are available at Dharumavantha Hospital and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). Services are also supported through a facility in Addu City Equatorial Hospital, operated in collaboration with IGMH.
Speaking to PSM News, Abdul Razzaq Haleem said a hybrid catheter lab has already been set up at Dharumavantha Hospital. He added that an additional lab will be developed on the 11th floor of the hospital. He noted that the current system is single-plane, but the new development will introduce a biplane system, enhancing the hospital’s diagnostic and treatment capabilities.
The CEO said funding has been secured for the project, with installation of equipment expected in the third quarter of this year. He also highlighted the need to upgrade the catheter lab at IGMH, which has been in operation for around a decade.
“The facility space will be prepared and a biplane machine will be installed. This will allow for more advanced procedures, particularly in brain and spine surgery treatments,” he said.
A catheter lab is used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions. The procedure involves inserting a thin tube, or catheter, into blood vessels, using imaging to assess blockages and, where necessary, placing devices such as stents to restore blood flow.
The hybrid catheter lab at Dharumavantha Hospital is designed to support neurosurgical, endovascular and interventional radiology services. Officials say the expansion will reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for specialised treatment.
The government has been working to strengthen Dharumavantha Hospital as a major healthcare facility, with services including maternity care, catheterisation and paediatric emergency treatment expanded in recent years.