The Government has begun preparations to establish the country's first facility dedicated to post-mortem examinations, marking a significant step toward expanding domestic forensic and medico-legal services.

Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali announced the initiative while responding to questions in Parliament regarding the absence of post-mortem examination services in the Maldives and the government's plans to introduce them.

The minister said that, despite no legal barriers preventing post-mortem examinations from being conducted locally, bodies have continued to be sent overseas for forensic examinations when required for legal investigations.

To address this gap, the Male' City Group of Hospitals (MCGH), in collaboration with relevant authorities, has begun developing a Level 2 medical unit that will provide clinical forensic, medico-legal, and post-mortem services.

Once completed, the facility will serve not only the Greater Malé region but the entire country.

In addition to conducting post-mortem examinations, the unit will provide forensic assessments of injuries sustained by victims of violence and individuals in custody, as well as examinations required for legal proceedings and insurance claims.

The planned facility will also support investigations into suspicious deaths and provide forensic services for cases involving sexual and physical assault, strengthening the country's capacity to conduct medico-legal investigations without relying on overseas institutions.

According to the minister, land has already been secured for the project, and work is underway to establish the necessary institutional framework.

Before the facility becomes operational, the government will finalize and publish forensic pathology regulations in the Government Gazette, with particular emphasis on ensuring public confidence in the new service.

Although legislation governing post-mortem examinations was enacted in 2015, the service was never introduced by previous administrations.

The current government says it is now taking the necessary steps to implement the system and make forensic pathology services available within the Maldives.

Over the past decade, 23 bodies have been sent abroad for post-mortem examinations, with each examination costing over USD 3,500, highlighting the financial and logistical challenges associated with the absence of a domestic forensic pathology service.