Minister of Health Meets with Senior Officials of Merck Foundation

The Minister of Health, along with State Ministers and senior officials from the Ministry of Health,  held a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Merck Foundation to discuss strategic areas of collaboration aimed at strengthening the Maldives’ healthcare system. The Merck Foundation delegation was led by Professor Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees and former Chairman of the Executive  Board of E. Merck KG, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Health, focused on advancing collaboration in several key areas, including:

● Infertility and Reproductive Health: Specialist training, public awareness, and

infrastructure support for assisted reproductive services.

● Cancer Care: Capacity building in gynecologic and pediatric oncology, and support for national screening and awareness programs.

● Maternal, Neonatal, and Family Medicine: Enhancing services in line with the establishment of the upcoming Women and Children’s Hospital.

● Mental Health Integration: Expansion of community-based mental health services through WHO’s mhGAP training.

● Training and Leadership Development: Technical and leadership programs for allied

health professionals and women in health leadership.

● Scholarships and Capacity Building: Access to Merck Foundation’s global scholarship network, supporting advanced training in over 44 medical specialties.

This meeting further builds on the Maldives’ growing partnership with the Merck Foundation, which began in 2024 and was highlighted by the participation of First Lady H.E. Sajidha Mohamed in the 11th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, where she was appointed Ambassador for the “More Than a Mother” campaign. The Ministry expressed its commitment to working closely with the Merck Foundation to implement sustainable and impactful healthcare initiatives across the Maldives.