News Desk
The government expects to hand over the new National Health Laboratory building within the year, while work continues on long delayed medicine price caps and fresh measures are being considered on shisha and sugar. The developments come as President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s health agenda gains international attention, including recognition from TIME magazine for his administration’s preventive health focus and tobacco control efforts.
Health Minister Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim said the new laboratory will be the most significant upgrade to the Maldives Food and Drug Authority in the next two years. The current facility, located inside the Ministry of Health, is no longer suitable for the scale of testing required.
A 25 million dollar loan from the European Investment Bank has been secured for the project, with the agreement signed on 22 June. A further 1.2 million dollar contract was signed on 9 November 2025 with German firm GITEC to design the building, conduct feasibility studies and provide consultancy. Company officials travelled to the Maldives late last year to gather technical information, and design work is now underway. The ministry will open an international tender for construction in July.
Nazim said 26,000 square feet of land have been allocated for the laboratory, which will be built across two structures, one nine storeys and the other three. Administrative offices will be separated from the main testing floors. The facility will handle microbiology level 2 and 3 pathogens and expand testing for medicines and food using modern equipment. Staff facilities will include exercise areas, recreation space, childcare, limited accommodation and a cafeteria.
The minister’s remarks come as the government continues to implement maximum retail prices for essential medicines. Although the Health Care Act requires capped prices for prescription drugs, full implementation has been delayed due to concerns raised by pharmacy operators. Some essential medicines already have fixed prices through Maldives’ universal insurance Aasandha system, but Nazim said it remains difficult to predict when the full list will be completed.
The MFDA first issued rules on medicine price controls in November 2021, with the first phase covering 357 basic drugs. Further phases were expected to follow, and pharmacies can face fines for selling above the capped price.
Nazim also confirmed that the government is considering a ban on shisha and a reduction of subsidies on sugar. He said discussions are ongoing at different levels, noting that diabetes and other lifestyle diseases cannot be addressed if measures are taken only gradually. The doctors’ association has also called for a ban on shisha and higher taxes on sugary drinks, describing such steps as essential to protect future generations.
| “ | I am committed to building a Maldives that is home to educated, healthy, physically fit, mentally strong, and morally grounded citizens. This is my responsibility — and it is my greatest honour. Such a society is essential for creating an economy that is vibrant and resilient, and a nation that is socially stable, secure, and united. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu Presidential Address 2026 |
In his presidential address, the President reaffirmed that safeguarding the health of every citizen remains a central pillar of his administration’s development agenda. He stressed that true progress in the health sector can only be achieved when preventive and curative care are given equal weight, delivered equitably, and made accessible to all. Underscoring the need to end the long standing overreliance on Malé and the burden of seeking treatment abroad, he reiterated that every Maldivian deserves quality healthcare close to home.
To this end, the government has begun establishing General Practitioner and Urban Primary Healthcare Centres across the capital region, with the first facilities already operational in Malé and additional centres set to open in Hulhumalé Phase 1, Hulhumalé Phase 2, and two more locations around the country this year. He further announced plans to introduce laboratory services capable of analysing pesticide residues and heavy metals in food, strengthening national food safety and public health protections. As part of a broader effort to curb tobacco use, the President highlighted recent amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, including the introduction of a generational ban on tobacco consumption. Tobacco cessation services are now available on every inhabited island, supported by 433 trained health workers, with nicotine replacement therapy provided through the Aasandha system.
These debates come as President Muizzu’s broader health agenda continues to receive international recognition. TIME magazine recently highlighted the Maldives for its generational smoking ban for those born in 2007 and the prohibition of e cigarettes, noting the administration’s commitment to preventive health and long term wellbeing. The President has repeatedly emphasised healthier lifestyles and the need to strengthen local health services so citizens do not have to travel abroad for basic treatment.
Nazim said the ministry will give top priority this year to public awareness, as the government prepares to take further steps to improve national health outcomes.
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