Dialysis Services to Be Established Even in Islands With Three Patients: Minister Geela

Health Minister Dr Geela Ali has said dialysis services will be established even in islands with as few as three patients requiring the treatment, as the government works to expand access to dialysis services across the Maldives.

Speaking at a press conference today, Minister Geela said the government’s policy is to establish dialysis services across all atolls, with the locations determined based on the number and geographical distribution of patients requiring regular treatment.

She said the Ministry is working to ensure that patients can receive dialysis closer to their home islands, reducing the need for patients to travel to Malé for regular treatment. The Minister noted that even in locations with a small number of patients, efforts are being made to establish services that can be effectively maintained.

Dialysis services have so far been introduced in 11 islands across different atolls, based on the prevalence of patients requiring the treatment. According to the Minister, work is currently underway to establish dialysis services in nine additional islands.

However, expanding dialysis services to islands requires specialised medical personnel, trained nurses, dialysis machines and appropriate facilities. Minister Geela said the Ministry is therefore working on procuring the required equipment and providing specialised training for nurses to operate and manage dialysis services.

The Ministry is also conducting research into patients’ preferences, including whether patients would prefer to continue travelling to Malé for treatment or receive dialysis in their home islands.

Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment for patients whose kidneys are no longer able to adequately remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. Patients requiring regular dialysis often need treatment several times a week, making access to services closer to their homes particularly important for those living in remote islands.

The expansion of dialysis services is part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge to decentralise specialised healthcare and establish dialysis services across the Maldives. The Ministry has said the rollout will take into account the number of patients in each location while ensuring that the necessary expertise, equipment and resources are available to provide the service safely and sustainably.