56 ambulances procured for MVR 65.3M handed over to islands

Fifty-six ambulances that were procured for MVR 65.3 million have officially been handed over to islands in need.

The keys to the ambulances were handed over by Health Minister Abdulla Nazim during a ceremony held on Saturday. 

The ambulances were procured by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) on a contractor finance basis. The procurement was carried out in three phases.

According to the Health Ministry, ambulances will be procured for an additional 31 islands within this year. The Ministry also revealed plans to procure 10 paramedic ambulances to facilitate the commencement of paramedic services in the Malé area and other cities this year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Health Minister Nazim emphasized that the health sector faces numerous challenges, including the geographical dispersion of the Maldives, which hinders effective service delivery.

Another challenge highlighted by the Minister is the unsustainable provision of ambulance services. In this regard, he noted that while ambulances have been provided to some islands, many have broken down due to a lack of proper maintenance.

To resolve this, the Minister stated that the incumbent administration, under policies set forth by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, has commenced efforts to procure ambulances for islands in need.

He described the handover of the first 56 ambulances as part of these efforts as a symbol of the priority the President has placed on the matter.

He added that MPL will be undertaking all works related to the maintenance of the ambulances procured by the company under the agreement.