Maldives: UN expert calls for long-term vision to realise the right to health

MALÉ – The Maldives’ universal healthcare model which aims to promote affordable and accessible healthcare for Maldivian nationals is a positive step forward towards achieving the right to health for all, a UN expert said today.

“The Maldives’ achievements in establishing a universal healthcare system, relying on modern science and medicine should be safeguarded,” said Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right to health, in a statement at the end of her visit to the country.

Viewed as essential contributors to Maldivian society, the health and protections of the migrant community remain central to the country’s public agenda. “A high number of migrant workers demands a focus on improving equitable access to health services, reducing vulnerabilities, and strengthening service delivery,” Mofokeng said.

She highlighted the need to improve access to essential medicines, including for mental health, palliative care and comprehensive harm reduction, as well as to increase the number of mental health practitioners, primary healthcare psychiatric nurses and doctors across the country, in conjunction with all the modalities of support.

Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases have replaced infectious diseases as the primary cause of death and disability in Maldives. “In the wake of challenges related to health commodities and medical supplies, the joint committee formed by the State Trading Organisation and key actors to address pharmaceutical issues is a good initiative,” the UN expert said. “Civil society representatives are crucial partners and should have a seat at the table.”

She stressed the need to ensure access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health rights, commodities, information and services.

The Special Rapporteur urged the government to adopt more inter-ministerial coordination, monitoring and forecasting, including on migrant workers, mental health, dignity in ageing, living standards, food security, housing and demography, as well as to adapt all of the government’s agility to evolving needs.

“By uniting behind a coherent long-term shared vision, multisectoral governance and investing in primary-care focused on emerging needs such as non-communicable diseases, the Maldives can ensure future health system security and resilience, building on their universal healthcare model of health delivery,” Mofokeng said.