President’s Office begins reviewing petition by IGMH’s doctors, nurses

President’s Office has decided to open a review into a petition submitted by hundreds of doctors and nurses at the main state hospital - Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) - over the decision by Civil Service Commission (CSC) to halt promotions to civil servants in technical positions. 

President’s Office spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Azeez confirmed to Sun on Thursday that they have received the petition. He said that a decision regarding the concerns raised in the petition will be made following a review. 

Mabrook said that the review will not be conducted by the President’s Office alone, and that counsel will also be sought from additional stakeholders. 

However, he did not provide a timeline for when the review is expected to be complete. 

The petition was signed by 491 doctors and nurses at IGMH. 

IGMH’s orthopedist, Dr. Yoosuf Shan, who led the petition, told Sun on Wednesday that the medical professionals have asked President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to reverse CSC’s decision to halt promotions. 

“This petition calls for the reversal of the decision to stop granting promotions. This is a matter of great concern,” he said.  

Shan said that medical professionals take on far greater responsibilities than those working in other professions. And that the decision to overlook their contribution and suspend promotions is demotivating.  

“This has been demotivating to a great many. This affects IGMH. This affects the doctors and nurses at IGMH,” he said. 

The petition comes a week after pilots at the national airline – Maldivian – announced a strike over the failure to reverse a 40 percent pay cut implemented back in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The President met with the pilots to hear their concerns, and the pilots later called off the strike after Island Aviation – which manages the airline – agreed to restore their salaries.