Maldives and China sign feasibility study agreement for Vilimale’ hospital

Maldives and China signed a letter of exchange on Wednesday, regarding conducting a feasibility study for a project to develop a 100-bed hospital in suburban Vilimale’.

The agreement was signed by Infrastructure Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib and Chinese Ambassador Wang Lixin in a ceremony held at the Dharumavantha Hospital on Wednesday morning.

Maldivian Health Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel announced the decision to build a 100-bed tertiary hospital in Vilimale’ on December 27.

And in January, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that the Chinese government had offered grant assistance to fund the project.

He made the announcement via a video message while on a state visit to Beijing.

In the video message, President Muizzu said that China had agreed to fully fund the project.

And in March, the president said that the government had allocated land from Vilimale’ for the project, and that physical works would begin as soon as the technical work wraps up.

President Muizzu has named improving access to healthcare as a top priority for his administration, and has said that the construction of the new hospital in Vilimale’ will eliminate the need for residents of the district to travel to Male’ City to access medical services.