Ibrahim Abdur Razzaq Haleem, CEO of Male’ City Group of Hospitals, has stated that the first of the General Practice clinics planned to be established in various areas of Male’ is being prepared to open in August. These clinics are being set up to reduce the queues of people seeking doctors for common illnesses at the main government hospitals in the Male’ area. It has been decided to establish these clinics in 4 areas of Male’ and 2 additional locations in Hulhumale’.
Speaking on PSM News’ Raajje Miadu program, Ibrahim Abdur Razzaq Haleem, CEO of Male’ City Group of Hospitals, said that they are working to open and begin services at the first of the General Practice clinics planned for various areas of Male’ this month. This facility is being developed in the Coral Boulevard building in Maafannu. He also mentioned that work is ongoing to develop 3 additional GP clinics in Male’.
Noting that such facilities are also planned for development in Hulhumale’, the CEO said that the practical work for the 2 GP clinics to be established in Hulhumale’ will also begin within a short period. The CEO highlighted that GP clinics will be able to perform important first-stage procedures such as taking blood samples for tests and X-rays. He also stated that if the patient’s condition is not serious, GP clinics will handle matters such as prescribing medication, and if a specialist consultation is needed, GP clinics will make the appointment. He added that when GP clinics are established in 4 areas of Male’, the services currently provided by Dhamanaveshi will also be available at these locations.
“Even for a common illness, one has to come to the ER and wait there. This causes problems in providing prompt service to those in the ER. GP clinics will provide solutions to this. Secondly, when seeking a doctor through self-referral, the appointment is often not made with the required specialist. With a long list, people end up going to private clinics and paying out of pocket,” said Ibrahim Abdur Razzaq Haleem, CEO of Male’ City Group of Hospitals.
In other countries around the world, the practice for minor ailments and common diseases is to seek a doctor’s advice and guidance from a family clinic or nearby health facility, rather than going to the main hospital first. By adopting this system of service, patients will receive faster and more convenient care in both seeking and receiving treatment, while also reducing the burden on hospitals and significantly easing the queues for emergency services and specialist doctors.
In addition to the residents of Male’, a large number of people from the atolls also come to IGMH to see doctors. As a result, it is the busiest hospital. According to IGMH statistics, the number of people visiting for emergency and general practice or common illnesses exceeds 150,000 per year. While the number of people seeking OPD consultation services is around 240,000, Hulhumale’ Hospital sees over 238,000 doctor visits.
