Ministry of Finance has opened the construction of three regional hospitals for tender.
The finance ministry has invited tenders for the construction of hospitals in Ihavandhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll, Kendhikulhudhoo in Noonu Atoll, and Hinnavaru in Lhaviyani Atoll. Developing hospitals in these islands is an electoral pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The finance ministry will accept tenders from February 28, from registered Maldivian companies that meet the guidelines for construction companies set by the Ministry of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure. However, foreign companies are not required to meet the planning ministry's guidelines to participate in the tender process. Interested parties are required to submit a bid security of USD 45,000 within 148 days of opening the tender process.
The construction of the hospital in Ihavandhoo is expected to take three years at a cost of USD 4.6 million, while the hospitals in Kendhikulhudhoo and Hinnavaru are expected to take three years and cost USD 3.4 million each. The finance ministry also announced it is seeking interested parties to design tertiary hospitals in Kulhudhuffushi City, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, and Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.
Building tertiary hospitals in five regions of the Maldives is part of the government's pledge to decentralise health care services in the country and improve healthcare in the atolls. The tertiary hospitals are to be built in Kulhudhuffushi, Thinadhoo, Ungoofaaru in Raa Atoll, Gan in Laamu Atoll, and Hithadhoo in Addu City.