Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, emphasized that immediate action on expatriate health issues is crucial, as inaction could pose significant challenges to the public health sector. Consequently, the Minister called for the collaborative involvement of all institutions to ensure the successful provision of comprehensive healthcare services to expatriates. He made these remarks while inaugurating the “Public Health Conference,” a joint initiative by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the National University.
The Minister highlighted that one in four residents in the Maldives is an expatriate. Given that several diseases eradicated or absent in the Maldives are prevalent in the countries of origin for these expatriates, improving their health is crucial for the overall public health of the entire nation. This conference is slated to include discussions on implementing national policies regarding expatriate health, identifying obstacles to providing them with healthcare, and exploring potential solutions. Organisations involved in expatriate affairs, along with government institutions, are participating in these discussions. This marks the second time this conference is being held.
