First Lady Opens Emergency and Dialysis Units at Kulhudhuffushi Hospital

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed inaugurated major medical upgrades at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital on Sunday, advancing the government's plan to transform the facility into a tertiary-level institution for the northern atolls. The newly opened units in emergency medicine and renal care aim to decentralize specialized healthcare services and strengthen regional infrastructure. The modernized Emergency Room features six beds, a dedicated procedure room, and a staff lounge. Previously, emergency care was delivered within an internal ward, causing logistical delays. The new unit allows ambulances direct access, speeding up treatment for critical cases. The hospital treated 1,679 emergency patients in the first quarter of this year, following over 6,500 patients last year. Plans are also underway for a larger, 13,500-square-foot emergency facility. A nine-bed Dialysis Centre, equipped for intensive care with an isolation bed, was also opened. To ease the burden on patients traveling for treatment, the government has introduced peritoneal dialysis, a method that allows for self-administration at home. This expansion is part of a national program that has extended dialysis services to ten islands in the past two years. The event concluded with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new isolation facility funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Built under a contract signed with Altec Maldives Private Limited in February, the multi-purpose structure will serve as a convertible quarantine center and an 800-seat auditorium, providing a dual-purpose asset for future health emergencies.