Hulhumalé Hospital has officially launched three additional specialist services in gastroenterology, neurology and urology.
Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali inaugurated the services and opened the hospital’s Neuroscience Unit as part of the launch.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister Geela said some hospitals in the atolls already provide these services. She said the main purpose of introducing them at Hulhumalé Hospital is to ease pressure on Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
Minister Geela noted that many patients remain on waiting lists and said the aim is to reduce waiting times while also limiting the number of people who need to travel abroad for medical treatment.
“Even now, a large number of people travel abroad for medical treatment every year. We hope to make it easier for them to receive these services while remaining in the Maldives. The President aims to establish specialist services of this kind at Government hospitals and make them more accessible to the public,” Minister Geela said.
Malé City Group of Hospitals Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem said Hulhumalé Hospital already offers a wide range of specialty services. Until recently, however, people in Hulhumalé who required the newly introduced services had to seek them at IGMH or Dharumavantha Hospital.
“Under the neurology service, patients will have access to consultations as well as EEG services. Urology services will include consultations and tests such as uroflowmetry. Gastroenterology services are beginning with consultations. Patients who require an intervention following consultation can then be referred for the necessary procedure. In the near future, we plan to make arrangements to provide endoscopy and colonoscopy services under gastroenterology,” CEO Haleem said.
The Neuroscience Unit will offer EEG services every day during official working hours, with registration open until 2:00 PM. The hospital will provide the service at any time in emergency cases.
Over the past two and a half years, Hulhumalé Hospital has carried out major work to address space constraints and expand its services. This includes establishing a modern operating theatre complex equipped with four operating rooms.
The hospital has also established a 10-bed intensive care unit (ICU) and a modern 14-bed neonatal intensive care unit.