Ambulances have been handed over to 27 islands as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to expand and strengthen healthcare delivery across the Maldives.

According to Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), the company is responsible for delivering ambulances to a total of 56 islands under an initiative led by the Ministry of Health.

The rollout began on January 19, with the ambulances delivered so far assigned to island hospitals. MPL has assured that the remaining vehicles will be transported in the coming days.

The initiative follows community outreach visits by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, during which he engaged with local council leaders and heads of institutions to identify challenges faced by island communities.

The government has noted that the lack of reliable and continuous emergency medical transport has emerged as a widespread concern, particularly in outer islands.

The project aims to address these gaps by improving access to emergency medical services and easing the burden on patients, while reinforcing the national healthcare system.

The Ministry of Health awarded the project, valued at USD 4.22 million, to MPL under a contractor financing scheme. Vehicle keys have already been distributed to all 56 islands designated to receive ambulances under the current phase.

In addition, the Health Ministry has announced plans to provide new ambulances to a further 31 islands and deploy 10 paramedic ambulances to the Greater Malé region within this year.