Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has agreed to provide a loan of 3,000,000 Kuwaiti dinars (MVR 150 million) to improve health services in small islands in the north and south of the Maldives.

The loan agreement for the project, known as the "Small Islands Hospital Project", was signed today between the Government of Maldives and the Kuwait Fund. Finance Minister Mohamed Shafeeq signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Maldives while the Kuwait Fund was represented by its Acting Director General, Walid Al Bahar.

The Finance Ministry said the project aims to improve the quality of health services in small islands in the north and south of the Maldives.

The project also aims to reduce the cost of transportation for health services between the islands served, decentralize health services to the rural population and tourists, and ensure access to secondary health care at the most appropriate time.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the development of hospitals includes construction works, electro-technical works of hospital buildings and services, provision of medical equipment and furniture, preparation of drawings and tender documents, engineering services and project implementation unit.