Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has stated Maldivians must adopt a healthier lifestyle as the administration puts an equivalent emphasis on people's health as the development of infrastructure.
Speaking at the function to mark the 50th anniversary of Dhaalu Atoll Hospital, Health Minister Ameen said next year will be marked as the public health year. The minister further said past administrations were negligent in the development of health sector, highlighting the failure to fund significant investments the sector require. He also said past administrations focused on infrastructure development, disregarding the need for the development of public health.
The health minister also explained various policy changes the administration intends to implement to tackle the issues faced in the health sector. The minister urged everyone to be mindful of public health and to be sensible to protect the public health of the community. He also suggested individual and the government responsibility in establishing systems that emphasises the importance of public health. He stressed the administration is developing strategies under the health master plan to form policies that consider public health equally as important as the development of infrastructure.
One of the primary objectives of the strategy is to link all health service providers via a single network to ensure a more engaging and a fair system.