The Human Rights Measurement Initiative ^[1] finds that Maldives is fulfilling 72.0% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income. ^[2] When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Maldives achieves 98.0% of what is expected based on its current income. ^[3] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves 99.7% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income. ^[4] Maldives falls into the "very bad" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 18.2% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available. ^[5]

Life expectancy at birth in Maldives was 77 years in 2011. ^[6] Infant mortality fell from 34 per 1,000 in 1990 to 15 in 2004. There is increasing disparity between health in the capital and on the other islands. There is also a problem of malnutrition . Imported food is expensive. ^[7]

On 24 May 2021, Maldives had the world's fastest-growing COVID-19 outbreak , with the highest number of infections per million people over the prior 7 and 14 days, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. ^[8] Doctors warned that increasing demand for COVID-19 care could hinder their ability to handle other health emergencies in the Maldives. ^[9]

Preventive and public health falls within the remit of the Health Protection Agency .

The Society for Health Education provides sexual and reproductive health information and services to young people and is supported by the United Nations Population Fund . ^[10]

Healthcare [ edit ]

The proportion of health expenditure in the national budget increased from 8.7% in 1998 to 10.9% in 2000. Total expenditure on health in 2001 was $98. Maldives has a universal health insurance scheme, Aasandha .

There are two hospitals in Male , the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital , which is public and the ADK Hospital which is commercial. On all the inhabited atolls there are primary care facilities, and secondary care with beds on the larger islands. ^[11] The atoll-based hospitals have trouble getting supplies of medicine:

• Haa Alif Atoll Hospital
• Addu Equatorial Hospital
• Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital
• Shaviyani Atoll Hospital
• Noonu Atoll Hospital
• Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital
• Baa Atoll Hospital
• Lhaviyani Atoll Hospital
• Alif Alif Atoll Hospital
• Alif Dhaalu Atoll Hospital
• Vaavu Atoll Hospital
• Muli Regional Hospital
• Faafu Atoll Hospital
• Dhaalu Atoll Hospital
• Thaa Atoll Hospital
• Gan Regional Hospital
• Gaaf Alif Atoll Hospital
• Thinadhoo Regional Hospital
• Nyaviyani Atoll Hospital
• Hithadhoo Regional Hospital

In 2000 there was a total of 470 hospital beds, a ratio of one bed for each 577 inhabitants. ^[12]

References [ edit ]