In a significant development for Malé’s healthcare landscape, a new 25-storey cancer treatment facility is set to be constructed adjacent to Dharumavantha Hospital, as announced by the Malé Group of Hospitals. This announcement, made during a recent press conference, seeks to address issues that have left Dharumavantha underutilized since its construction and assure the public that similar setbacks will be avoided.
Dharumavantha Hospital
Dharumavantha Hospital, built during the administration of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Qayyoom, was initially conceived as a 25-storey advanced healthcare facility costing MVR 2.2 billion. However, due to underuse and shortages of hospital beds, the facility has faced criticism, with many patients compelled to seek treatment abroad. Public concerns have centred around the hospital’s unrealized potential, with valuable resources and infrastructure left dormant for years.
Assurances from the Malé Group of Hospitals
The new project aims to prevent similar challenges from affecting the cancer hospital. Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, CEO of the Malé Group of Hospitals, which also manages facilities such as Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), pledged that the new cancer hospital would be fully operational from day one. Haleem stated that the upcoming facility would deliver specialized cancer treatments and related healthcare services within its first year, maximizing utilization across all floors.
Haleem expressed his commitment to ensuring the new facility does not face the same fate as Dharumavantha, stating, "Dharumavantha Hospital was built with the right intentions, but subsequent administrations failed to fully utilize it. Our public deserves answers and access to effective care facilities."
Infrastructure Challenges for Cancer Treatment in the Maldives
Cancer treatment infrastructure in the Maldives remains limited, with critical shortages in PET scan and radiation therapy capacity. This new facility is intended to fill those gaps, providing comprehensive cancer care to address an urgent need among the Maldivian population. The hospital will feature modern equipment, ample space for specialized treatment, and a dedicated medical team to offer treatment closer to home for many patients.
Haleem highlighted the space limitations that have prevented Dharumavantha from becoming a central point for complex treatments. "We currently lack adequate space for PET scans and radiation therapy,” he said. “This facility will address these limitations while providing a comprehensive approach to cancer care."
Plans to Revitalize and Expand Healthcare Facilities
In addition to the cancer hospital, the Malé Group of Hospitals is exploring plans to redevelop the older IGMH building, enhancing overall healthcare capacity in the area. Haleem acknowledged that the new cancer center might still be insufficient to meet the growing healthcare demand, making the redevelopment of IGMH a priority as soon as resources become available.
The CEO underscored the commitment to ensuring that every floor of the new cancer hospital would be fully utilized to avoid the pitfalls Dharumavantha faced. “From day one, every floor will be operational,” Haleem assured. The goal is to make this facility a fully functional, dynamic centre of healthcare excellence.
Next Steps and Future Prospects
Although early-stage plans for the cancer hospital have been shared, the project’s full scope and costs are still in the process of finalization. The Malé Group of Hospitals is optimistic that this new cancer care facility will mark a turning point for healthcare in the Maldives, reducing the need for patients to seek treatment abroad and ensuring that Malé’s hospitals can better meet the needs of the local community.
