An agreement was signed today to commence the physical works of the "China-Maldives Friendship Hospital," which is set to be developed in Villimalé with the assistance of the Chinese government.

During a ceremony held at the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Infrastructure, Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry, while Counselor Zheng Zhu of the Chinese Embassy in the Maldives signed on behalf of the Chinese government.

Under this agreement, the process of selecting a contractor to undertake the construction of the Villimalé Hospital through a bidding system will proceed.

The Ministry of Construction stated today that the hospital in Villimalé is scheduled to be built on a 12,890-square-meter site. The ministry further specified that it will be a tertiary-level hospital with a 112-bed capacity.

"All necessary medical equipment and furniture required to provide tertiary-level healthcare services will also be provided under this project," the Ministry added.

The hospital will feature specialized areas for diagnosis and treatment, in addition to outpatient and emergency services. The Ministry also noted that the facility will include an office building for administrative operations.

The Villimalé Hospital project is a significant initiative under the policy of establishing accessible, high-quality healthcare arrangements for the citizens, according to the Ministry.

"It is estimated that a contractor will be appointed and physical work on this project will commence within the third quarter of this year," the Ministry of Construction stated.

Building a tertiary-level hospital in Villimalé is a key presidential pledge of Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.