Health Ministry: Some nurses working without license

Health Ministry states that some individuals are practicing as nurses and midwives in both government and private institutes without proper licensing. 

The Ministry, via an announcement on August 13^th, said Maldives Nursing and Midwifery Council has observed that individuals are practicing as nurses and midwives without proper licensing. 

Nurses and midwives include:

Nurses and midwives undertaking administrative work (Nursing Director/Nursing Administrator)

Nurses and midwives involved in training (Nurse Educator/Nursing Lecturer) 

According to Article 24 of the Healthcare Professional Act, to practice as a nurse or midwife in the Maldives, the individual in question must be registered with the Maldives Nursing and Midwifery Council and shall practice under the license issued by the Council and in accordance with the conditions set forth in the license.

Article 93 of the Act state it is an offense for a healthcare professional to practice with an expired license.

As such, the Ministry has urged nurses and midwives practicing without a license to register with the Maldives Nursing and Midwifery Council and nurses and midwives with expired licenses to renew it. 

It is unclear whether the Ministry took action against any individual over the licensing issue.

There is a high demand for nurses in the Maldives.

On this year’s Nurse’s Day, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu affirmed his administration’s commitment to facilitating opportunities to become nurses as the government targets to increase the number of practicing nurses.

At present, 92 percent of practicing nurses in the Maldives accounts for women.