Maldives to Establish First National Post-Mortem Facility to End Costly Overseas Transfers

The Maldivian government has commenced work to establish the country's first dedicated post-mortem facility, ending a decade-long reliance on expensive overseas forensic services. Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali announced the initiative during a parliamentary session, detailing the transition toward a domestic medico-legal framework. The facility will be established as a Level 2 medical unit under the Male’ City Group of Hospitals (MCGH). Once operational, it will provide clinical forensic, medico-legal, and post-mortem services to the Greater Male’ area and all islands across the archipelago. Minister Ali confirmed that the government has already secured the necessary land for the project. For years, the Maldives has faced a critical gap in forensic capabilities. Despite legislation allowing domestic post-mortems since 2015, successive administrations failed to implement the service. This forced the state to send bodies abroad for examination, which the Minister noted has happened 23 times over the last ten years. Each individual examination cost the state approximately USD 3,567.44. Beyond determining the cause of death in legal investigations, the new unit will broaden the country's forensic capacity. It will provide essential assessments for victims of violence, individuals in police custody, and forensic evidence for sexual and physical assault cases. Additionally, the unit will determine the extent of injuries for legal and insurance claims, providing a more robust institutional framework for the justice system. To ensure the service meets international standards and maintains public trust, the government is currently finalizing forensic pathology regulations. These guidelines will be published in the Government Gazette before the unit becomes fully operational. By bringing these services home, the administration aims to provide timely legal closures for families and reduce the financial burden of international medical transfers.