The Ministry of Health has unveiled a significant initiative aimed at enhancing healthcare by creating a digital health system that modernizes the management of non-communicable diseases and improves patient record-keeping. This new system will automatically send health information via SMS to patients’ mobile phones.
Currently, the Maldives does not have a centralized system for accessing individual health information, making it challenging to monitor public health and keep accurate records. As a result, patients often undergo duplicate tests when transferring between hospitals, leading to unnecessary time and resource expenditures.
The proposed digital health system will allow both public and private healthcare facilities to maintain detailed medical records for every patient. Test results will be sent directly to patients’ phones, simplifying the process. Additionally, the Ministry highlights that the system will support online appointment booking and consultations, ensuring a complete medical history from childhood onwards.
To create the National Digital Health Architecture Blueprint, the Ministry of Health has organized workshops to collect feedback from healthcare providers, policymakers, technical experts, and other stakeholders. They also intend to gather public input before finalizing the blueprint.
In partnership with the World Health Organization and the Asian Development Bank, the Ministry aims to cultivate a culture of early disease prevention, representing a significant national initiative to address chronic diseases.
