Health Minister Dr. Abdulla Khalil has stated that the government is targeting to start laboratory services in all islands within 3 months.

Speaking at a press conference held at Senako Malam today to inform about the achievements made by the Health Ministry as part of president Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's first 100-day pledges, Khalil said that 76 of the islands in the Maldives do not have adequate laboratory services, of which four have already started providing laboratory services.

"The aim is to introduce these services in all the islands in the country in the next two to three months. Now, we have started these services in four islands of the country," Khalil said.

Point-of-care machines will be used to provide laboratory services in rural areas, he said, adding that they are small machines but capable of producing accurate results at par with larger machines.

Half of the villages where laboratory services need to be set up have such machines, but they will be dispatched only after all the formalities are completed, Khalil said.

"With the introduction of this, the number of tests being conducted in rural areas will now go up to 15. The result will be a clearer picture of what the patient should attend to. For instance, if there is a kidney problem, the machine will be highlight it," Khalil said.