Expansion of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital Announced

Male’ Hospital Group has unveiled plans to expand the public Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) by adding 75 new beds and fully utilising the adjacent 25-storey Dharumavantha Hospital building.

At a press conference today, IGMH CEO Abdul Razzaq Haleem stated that the hospital has only added 130 beds since its opening 29 years ago. Originally opened in 1995 with a bed capacity of 186 to serve a resident population of 62,219, Haleem remarked that the expansion has not kept pace with the significant population growth in the Male’ region.

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The new beds will include 44 for the general ward, 15 for the high dependency unit (HDU), 14 for private wards, and 2 for the burn unit. Haleem noted that the additional capacity will help alleviate pressure on the emergency room, which has faced overcrowding due to insufficient ward beds. He highlighted that surgeries have been delayed or cancelled as a result of this lack of capacity.

Haleem also announced plans for the full utilisation of the 25-storey Dharumavantha Hospital, which was constructed during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen. The 16th floor will house a 16-bed neonatal intensive care unit (N-ICU) and a delivery suite with six beds, while the 18th and 19th floors will be equipped with an additional 14 beds.

Despite being completed over five years ago, Haleem pointed out that the building has not yet been used to its full potential.