The Third International Joint Conference for Healthcare Professionals 2026 (IJCHP 2026) has been officially inaugurated.

The conference was honored today by the wife of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, First Lady Madam Sajida Mohamed.

The conference will proceed from today until next Thursday at Crossroads Maldives. The theme for this year's conference is "Education, Empowerment, and Evidence: Leading the Future of Healthcare for Sustainable Impact." Healthcare professionals from a total of nine countries, including the Maldives, are participating in this conference.

Speaking at today's ceremony, Madam Sajida stated that such conferences will open the path for constructive discussions. She also noted that the participation of health experts from various countries symbolizes a collective determination to advance the healthcare sector through knowledge, collaboration, and innovative methods.

Appreciating the work done by nurses, the first lady stated that nurses are the ones who work closest to the patient at all stages of treatment. She added that, in many cases, nurses are the first to recognize subtle changes in a patient's condition and are also the last to part ways with the person.

After the ceremony, the President of the Maldivian Nurses Association, Mariyam Shifana Hussain, told "One" media that one of the biggest objectives of holding this conference is for healthcare professionals to present the research they have conducted, undergo leadership training, and carry out workshops. Along with this, she stated that providing more opportunities for healthcare workers and familiarizing them with up-to-date information is also an important goal of this conference.

"Participants include those from the islands of the Maldives, as well as from Australia, China, the Netherlands, South Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. A total of 200 participants are included in the conference," Shifana said. She mentioned that 150 slots have been allocated for Maldivian participants, while 50 slots are specially reserved for those arriving from abroad.

"This conference is being held with the assistance of healthcare professionals and the government. We hope that as many local individuals as possible will join and present at these research conferences," the President of the Maldivian Nurses Association said.

Furthermore, Shifana stated that the workshops are being conducted without any additional fees, and these workshops will open eyes to new ways of conducting research on a global scale. Shifana also highlighted that without re-training, updated information cannot be obtained, and that these workshops will open the eyes of healthcare experts to the modern changes coming to a medical system compared to how it was 20 years ago.