President-elect Dr Mohamed Muizzu's office has said that no order has been placed for medical supplies for the last six months of this year.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President-elect's officeat M. Dhimyaath, interim spokesman Mohamed Firzul Abdulla Khaleel said that health sector places orders for health supplies twice a year.

"However, so far this year, there has been no order placed for equipment for the second six months of this year," Said Firzul.

He added that as a result, hospitals and health centres are providing services using materials that are currently available in emergency stocks.

"And if the situation continues, many of the services being provided in hospitals and health centres may come to a standstill by November or by mid-November," Firzul said.

He said that the government's main hospital, IGMH, has not been allotted any funds other than salaries of its employees for the rest of the year, which is making it difficult for them to repair and utilise some other facilities.

"There are some special treatment centres at IGMH. These centres are sometimes operated in collaboration with foreign companies. This includes the heart disease center and the nerve center. It is pertinent to mention here that the company that serves these two centres has bills worth USD 5.3 million that have not been paid as outstanding bills," Firzul said.

Firzul further said that as of now, the main hospitals are run by a separate board and that undermines the Health Ministry's authority and makes it difficult to obtain some information.