India: Efforts ongoing to revert to earlier system of getting specialists

The government of India has said that efforts are ongoing to find ways to revert to the earlier system of getting specialists from India for Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Rajeev Shahare announced this at a function at Traders Hotel on Saturday evening, to mark the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Maldives.

“…Health has become a major issue. I have been told recently that the Defence Minister was in India last week - he is also the Acting Health Minister - and various issues were raised. We are looking at how we can revert to the earlier system of getting specialists from India, to serve in the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital,” said Shahare, while speaking at the function organised by the Friendship Association of India-Maldives (FAIM).

Initially, specialists were provided on short-term basis to IGMH by the Indian government. It was decided later that the supply of specialists should be organised by the management of the hospital.

The Indian High Commission said that the Maldivian government has requested to resume the provision of specialists on short-term basis, and that an agreement in this regard was signed between the two governments during President Abdulla Yameen’s visit to India in January 2014.

The Indian High Commission said that the relevant authority in India has been informed of this request, and that this would be facilitated soon.

Shahare also mentioned in his speech yesterday, that this would be done very soon.

The function held to mark 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Maldives and India, was also attended by Ambassador-at-Large Dr Ahmed Asim, and senior officials of FAIM.