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India to establish cancer hospital in Maldives

Indian Ambassador to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir has announced the Indian government's decision to build a cancer-treatment hospital in the Maldives.

Ambassador Sudhir said a 100-bed hospital will be established in reclaimed suburbs Hulhumale' under the facility extended by the Indian government to the archipelago. While the hospital will specialise in cancer treatment, the most modern resources will be available at the hospital, said Ambassador Sudhir.

However, he did not reveal when the project will commence.

The main government hospital, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in capital Male' was established with the assistance of the Indian government in 1996. While the hospital lacked adequate resources until recently, the government 'overhauled' the hospital in 2016, bringing in new equipment and carrying out large renovations. An MRI machine was procured, and a special wing was dedicated to heart diseases 20 years after the hospital's establishment. Since then, a new 20-story hospital 'Dharumavantha Hospital' has been opened adjacent to IGMH with modern resources.

Indian aid provided to the Maldives has significantly increased since President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took Office, owing to strengthened relations between both countries. India has extended a US$ 80 million line of credit facility to the Maldives, under which several large projects will be carried out.