President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that the government is working to start kidney transplant service at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) within the year.

The President made the statement at the annual address under Article 84 at the opening of the parliament this morning.

In his address, President Solih said that important projects have been planned to develop treatment services for special diseases. And so, the government is working to start kidney transplant service at IGMH this year and develop a cancer hospital in Hulhumale’ with the help of the Indian government.

And to relieve the travel to the capital for medicine, tertiary hospitals are planned to be built in five regions of the country.

The tertiary hospitals being developed are Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi Hospital, Raa Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, Laamu Gan Regional Hospital, Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo Dr. Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital and the Addu Equatorial Hospital.

The President said that 6,160 people have sought treatment so far at the Mental Health Clinic established at IGMH last year.

President Solih said that the year will be declared as a year of general health and run programs to create awareness on non-transmitted diseases along with creating a network of community health workers.