More than 700 patients across the country have consulted visiting specialist doctors in four days under the government’s new ‘super specialist service.’
Arrangements have been made to send three out of the 762 patients overseas for further medical treatment, the national health insurance provider ‘Aasandha’ said today.
Under the programme, specialist doctors from neighbouring countries will come to the Maldives for one week every month and consult patients at hospitals in three different regions.
Every year, thousands of Maldivians fly to India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, seeking medical treatment unavailable in the country.
“Such a programme allows the government to provide health and social services at a lower cost, with better functioning systems in place,” said the Aasandha office in a press release.
The ‘super specialist service’ will employ neurologists, cardiologists, urologists, neurosurgeons, ENT doctors and paediatricians to provide consultations in different parts of the country.
Some 11 specialist doctors from India and Sri Lana are currently treating patients in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuhfushi, Laamu Gan, Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo and Hulhumalé.
A haemoglobin specialist doctor meanwhile visited the Maldives Blood Services and consulted 21 thalassemia patients.
The Aasandha office said that the biggest problem faced by the travelling teams was lack of medicine from island pharmacies.
However, the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has assured that the medicines will be provided within five days.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the super specialist programme last week, NSPA CEO Mujthabaa Jaleel said 22 hospitals from India and Sri Lanka will participate in providing doctors.
The visiting doctors will improve healthcare for people suffering from serious conditions, he said.
The super specialist programme is one of the key healthcare pledges in President Abdulla Yameen’s manifesto, Jaleel said.
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