Efforts underway to introduce family doctors

The Ministry of Health has started collecting public health information as part of its efforts to designate a doctor for every citizen and every family, an election pledge made by the present government.

Minister of State for Health Fuad Gasim told Sun Online today that the work has already commenced in the islands, and that its purpose is to facilitate sharing of health information between doctors and patients, and prepare doctors for this program.

“We are working on compiling and storing patient medical histories. This is being done by obtaining information from patients during consultations, and by health workers visiting people at home,” he said.

He added that the program would also simplify procedures, for example, for making appointments with specialist doctors.

Collection of information will continue also in Addu and Male’, and the program will be launched as soon as this process is completed, said Fuad.