Holhudhoo Health Centre Opens Medical Service for Work Permits

Holhudhoo Health Centre has launched a dedicated medical service for work permits, bringing a key requirement for expatriate workers closer to their communities. The service was inaugurated at a ceremony attended by Minister of State for Health Ahmed Gasim. The initiative is part of a government policy to decentralize mandatory medical check-ups for foreign workers, which have traditionally been concentrated in the capital, Malé. All expatriates working in the Maldives must obtain a certified medical report as part of their work permit application. With this launch, Holhudhoo becomes the third island in Noonu Atoll to offer the service, following Manadhoo and Velidhoo. A health centre official stated that the local service will eliminate the need for residents and employers on Holhudhoo and nearby islands to undertake long, costly trips to complete the process. Appointments for the medical examinations are available daily from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, with the service operating three to five days a week. The launch follows other recent upgrades at the health centre, including new X-ray services and the deployment of specialized doctors in paediatrics and internal medicine. Nationally, since 2024, all foreign work permits are processed upon submission of the required medical report through the online Expat system. Individuals arriving in the Maldives on a work permit entry pass must also submit their medical report through this system within 15 days of arrival.