News
Maldives National Forum on Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
13 December 2025
Department:
Maldives National Forum on Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
Advancing UHC Through Strategic Partnerships and Resilient Health Systems
Towards Equity, Resilience, and Sustainability in a Post-COVID Era
The Ministry of Health, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Health
Organization (WHO), will convene the first Maldives National Forum on Universal Health
Coverage (UHC) on 12–14 December 2025 at Kurumba Maldives. The Forum aims to
strengthen national commitment to UHC, enhance multisectoral collaboration, and chart the
Maldives’ path to achieving SDG 3.8 by 2030.
Health System Context
The Maldives delivers healthcare through a three-tier system designed to provide equitable
access across the island nation.
● Primary care is delivered through island health centres.
● Secondary care is provided at atoll and regional facilities offering maternal, newborn,
and specialized services.
● Tertiary care is offered at six national hospitals—four public (Dharmavantha Hospital,
Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Hulhumalé Hospital, Addu Equatorial Hospital) and two
private (ADK Hospital, Tree Top Hospital).
The country has made significant strides in UHC, achieving a service coverage index of
around 70, eliminating several communicable diseases, and ensuring free public healthcare
through the Aasandha scheme. Progress in maternal and child health, life expectancy, and
primary care reflects strong national commitment and alignment with global health goals.
However, sustainability challenges persist. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for
84% of the disease burden, health financing faces growing fiscal pressure, and workforce gaps
and reliance on expatriate staff remain substantial. Climate change and global health security
threats further heighten system vulnerabilities.
Forum Objectives
The Maldives National UHC Forum will provide a platform to:
● Enhance national understanding of UHC and the reforms required to achieve it.
● Share international and local best practices and lessons learned.
● Strengthen multisectoral partnerships and development cooperation.
● Foster innovation in monitoring, evaluation, and digital health.
Key deliverables include a UHC policy brief with priority recommendations and a resource and
partnership map to support financing and implementation of UHC reforms.
Methodology
The two-day forum will feature:
● Panel discussions, expert presentations, and interactive sessions
● Ample space for Q&A, policy dialogue, and knowledge exchange
● Engagement between global experts and Maldivian stakeholders on climate-resilient
health systems, demographic trends, innovative financing, and digital transformation
A welcome reception will be held on 12 December, followed by technical sessions on 13–14
December 2025.
Participants
The Forum will bring together 100–110 participants, including:
● Senior policymakers and officials from the Ministry of Health and relevant sectors
(Finance, Education, Local Government, MNDF, Gender and Social Services, and Youth
& Sports)
● Public and private health service providers and atoll-level administrators
● Development partners and donor agencies including ADB, WHO, Global Fund, Gavi,
World Bank, IsDB, EIB, Gates Foundation, and UN agencies (UNICEF, IOM, UNDP,
FAO)
● Diplomatic missions from Australia, Canada, UK, Japan, Korea, Norway, USA, Sri
Lanka, India, and the EU
● Academia, researchers, civil society, and community representatives
The Forum is expected to:
● Strengthen national understanding of UHC pathways, with a PHC-centered reform approach.
● Unlock strategic partnerships and financing opportunities for sustainable UHC.
● Produce a resource and partnership map to guide future investments and collaboration.
● Generate strategic inputs for the Maldives UHC Priorities 2025–2030 and establish a platform for ongoing coordination.