As part of the government’s efforts to improve access to healthcare nationwide, dialysis services have been introduced in 10 islands over the past two years, Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has said.
Kidney disease remains one of the most common non-communicable illnesses among Maldivians and is a major reason patients seek medical treatment abroad. In response, the government has prioritised the development of in-country dialysis facilities. Patients with kidney failure typically require dialysis two to three times a week, with each session lasting several hours, making local access to treatment especially important.
The government aims to make dialysis services available in all atolls by the end of its current term. Dhaalu Atoll is the latest to benefit, with the service recently inaugurated.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Dhaalu Atoll, the Health Minister said the new facility will serve residents of Kudahuvadhoo as well as surrounding islands, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment. He reiterated that dialysis services have now been established on 10 islands and that further expansion across the country remains a key priority.
The minister highlighted the physical, emotional and financial strain faced by kidney patients and their families, stressing that ensuring equitable access to healthcare is a central responsibility of the administration.
He also noted that setting up dialysis services is a complex undertaking, requiring specialised infrastructure, advanced equipment and trained healthcare professionals. Many of the islands now offering dialysis previously lacked trained staff, but with government support, qualified personnel have since been deployed, he said.
In addition, the government has introduced peritoneal dialysis (PD), a home-based treatment that allows patients to receive dialysis using an assistive device, offering greater flexibility and comfort.
At present, Vaavu Atoll and Faafu Atoll do not yet have dialysis services. The government expects that once services are available across all atolls, pressure on healthcare facilities in the Greater Malé Region will ease, while also encouraging more people to continue living in their home islands.
The minister added that the expansion of dialysis services is part of a broader, carefully coordinated development plan, supported by improvements in transport connectivity such as the Raajje Transport Link (RTL). With dialysis units established at atoll hospitals, residents of nearby islands will be able to access treatment more easily using the RTL service.
