Minister of Higher Education Dr Ibrahim Hassan has revealed plans to offer additional loan and scholarship opportunities to study medicine abroad.
Speaking in the parliament in response to questions from Parliamentarian Mikael Naseem, the higher education minister said loans and scholarship opportunities were not offered to students who planned to pursue medicine. The minister said opportunities to study medicine abroad loans or scholarships are not offered to study a course offered in Maldives in another country, as per ministry policies. He further said the ministry will soon announce opportunities to study medicine abroad as the policies have been amended.
The first ever Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme began in Maldives last year, with the establishment of the Medical School of the Maldives National University (MNU). Currently, a total of 49 students are pursuing medical degrees at the Medical School. Students can study the programme for free as MBBS is included under the free degree programme initiated by the government.
Ministry of Higher Education is also revising its policies on issuance of loans to accommodate student representations from all parts of the country.