The International Conference on Medical Education (ICME) has commenced in the Maldives, bringing together healthcare professionals, academics and international experts to explore new opportunities, innovative approaches and global developments in medical education and healthcare delivery.
Jointly organised by the Maldives National University (MNU) and Pakistan’s Riphah International University, the two-day conference is being held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Health Professionals Education: Innovation, Leadership, and Excellence.”
The conference was inaugurated by Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali, who attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest. Also present were MNU Chancellor Dr Mahamood Shougee, Vice-Chancellor Dr Aishath Shehenaz Adam and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Maldives, Faisal Rasul Lodhi.
Addressing the inauguration, Minister Geela highlighted the importance of investing in human capacity, strengthening professional knowledge and expanding opportunities for healthcare workers, noting that the future of the healthcare sector depends not only on physical infrastructure and hospital construction but also on the skills and expertise of those delivering medical services.
She emphasised that meaningful progress in healthcare should be measured by how effectively professionals understand and respond to the specific needs of the communities they serve.
The Minister said modern medical education must go beyond producing large numbers of doctors and other healthcare professionals. Instead, educational institutions must prepare graduates to address changing healthcare demands, work alongside emerging technologies and respond to evolving disease patterns and mental health conditions.
She also highlighted the growing role of digital health tools and artificial intelligence in healthcare, stressing the importance of equipping future professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to technological advancements.
“Our universities must not only teach healthcare professionals but also impart the knowledge that works best in our specific context,” the Minister said.
Geela commended the Maldives National University for its progress in research and its efforts to adapt to emerging technologies. She also underscored the importance of team-based learning and collaboration among healthcare professionals, alongside a stronger emphasis on disease prevention and early intervention to prevent outbreaks from spreading.
The Minister’s remarks reflected the broader objectives of the conference, which aims to strengthen medical education by encouraging the exchange of knowledge, improving teaching methods and exploring innovative approaches to developing the healthcare workforce.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, MNU Vice-Chancellor Dr Aishath Shehenaz Adam highlighted the importance of international partnerships in strengthening academic programmes and creating wider opportunities for university staff and students.
She explained that collaboration with international institutions would help the university improve its educational offerings while enabling it to make a greater contribution to the communities it serves.
Dr Shehenaz also stressed that innovation in healthcare education should translate into tangible improvements in medical practice and patient outcomes. She noted that the value of new approaches must be assessed through their impact on teaching standards, clinical decision-making and the quality of care provided to patients.
The conference provides a platform for local and international experts to discuss the evolution of medical training, share research findings and examine ways to ensure healthcare education remains relevant to the changing needs of society.
More than 300 delegates representing 40 institutions from 14 countries are participating in the event, during which approximately 200 research papers are scheduled to be presented.
The gathering is expected to facilitate the exchange of expertise between Maldivian healthcare professionals and members of the international medical community, while encouraging discussions on research, academic collaboration, leadership and excellence in healthcare education.
Through these discussions, the conference seeks to identify approaches that can strengthen the preparation of future healthcare professionals, support the adoption of emerging technologies and improve the quality of healthcare services.
The event also highlights the importance of cooperation between universities and international academic institutions in developing a skilled healthcare workforce capable of responding to the Maldives’ healthcare priorities and the wider challenges facing the global medical sector.
