Health Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel has announced that the Maldives government is searching for a consultant to conduct a World Health Organization (WHO)-backed study into a significant rise in noncommunicable diseases in the country.

This announcement followed questions from Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad during a parliamentary session on Tuesday.

Dr. Khaleel confirmed that there has been an unusual increase in certain noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer, across some islands

He noted that the Health Ministry's studies have shown a troubling trend, and it is essential to identify the underlying causes.

The study, which was first mentioned in May, aims to address the alarming rates of noncommunicable diseases, which account for 84% of fatalities in the Maldives, with 17% of these deaths attributed to cancer alone.

The government plans to enhance coverage for cancer treatment through the state health insurance provider Aasandha and the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).

In 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to build a cancer hospital in the Maldives, but progress has stalled.

The previous administration had planned the hospital for L. Gan, while the current government aims to construct it in Male’, on land adjacent to Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

In addition to cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are major causes of death in the Maldives, according to recent Health Ministry reports.